Arhi FF: Retribution (part 11 updated pg 55) - Page 28

Originally posted by: JV21

Read all your parts at one go today...

Absolutely loved the story...!!

Loved how the story has unfolded until now...Khushi and Arnav's emotional turmoil is beautifully expressed...

As much as I am interested in knowing more abt this Uday guy as to why did he assault her if he loved her, I would also like to know why Arnav behaved as he did (as in before he found out abt Uday and she she left him) when he never hated her...Also how did he find out abt her whereabouts now...i'm sure u shall slowly and steadily unfold the mystery

Loved how u go back and forth from present to past and back to present...

Can u pls pm me for ur next update...

Part 10

I warn you this is emotional and readers may not like the last bit, but it is all part of the story.

Five and a half years ago...

Arnav stomped into his cabin tumultuously. The dark cloud surrounding his figure could almost be seen around him. His employees had obviously taken the hint, nobody daring to utter a word or even so much as lift an eye, in case the assault he was brandishing on the doors and floors of the office be redirected onto them. All had taken the hint except one.

Unceremoniously she flung her arms around the stiff-backed tycoon, who was staring out of the glass walls absentmindedly, pulling him into a bear hug while beaming a dazzling white smile. She ran a perfectly manicured finger along his chest, feeling the muscles flex under his shirt.

"ASR!"

Arnav grumbled. "Lavanya I'm not in the mood right now."

Lavanya just continued smiling, flicking her glossy long hair so that it landed on his shoulder, and then tightened her hold around his waist. "How about I get you in the mood?"

His hands clenched into fists but then on the brink of explosion, he took a deep breath and yanked her arms off his waist. It was meant to be a gentle action but was anything but. Frankly though he couldn't have cared less right now.

"OW! ASR!" the girl whined.

Arnav winced as her shrill voice reverberated through his brain, which was already a mess on account of being awake from an ungodly hour in the morning. That was it. The dam burst, letting all the pent up frustration run free. He turned swiftly around to face the startled girl in front of him, ready to bark.

"Lavanya didn't you hear me? I said I'M-NOT-IN-THE-MOOD! So leave!"

"But-"

"Get out now!"

Tears welling up in her eyes, she darted out of the room without another word spoken or a second glance. Staring at her despondent back, he felt a flicker of guilt badger him, which he all too quickly disregarded and shut away. He had his reasons for acting the way he did, he figured; reasons, or just rather one predominant reason, which was plaguing his mind since last night, not letting him have a moment of peace. His body felt like it might collapse but the anger flashing through him denied him of that pleasure.

Storming over to his desk while removing his jacket, he abruptly swung his jacket over the chair and sat down, banging his fist on the desk.

"Dammit!"

How could nani and di be so near-sighted and narrow-minded? He had lost track of how many times he had told them he hadn't loved and will never love anyone or anything other than his work. Love and all that crap that came along with it-marriage, responsibility, kids, sacrifice, compromise-was a far cry from what he wanted. In fact he couldn't imagine any other idea that was more repulsive. Compromise, especially compromise...he hated the very word. Arnav Singh Raizada did not compromise. He made other people compromise. And if they didn't it wouldn't be good for them.

He thought he had drilled in that he would never marry Lavanya too, despite the protestations from his more conservative-minded family members that he should. He liked Lavanya for the mere fact she had the same mindset as him; other things were bonuses. Even so, he had managed to stay faithful but that was just about the most he would give her as far as it came to acting like a husband. She was just what a man like him needed, and she looked good he had to give her that. However, he didn't want people getting the wrong idea; it was just some time, show, attention and gifts. Nothing more, nothing less.

So insisting that he should marry another, a complete stranger at that, was completely ludicrous! And this girl was definitely NOT what a man like him needed..."a middle-class girl! What the?!"

Shutting his eyes, her image dogged his mind. The picture he hadn't been able to erase from his memories since he had set eyes on it late last night. Her big brown eyes, her pale complexion, her long flowing black hair, her innocent and childish smile...again and again. His eyes snapped open in alarm.

"Dammit!" His jaw clenched.

What the hell had his mother been thinking? "She's a child...freaking nineteen!" He reclined back in the chair, laying his head back and shutting his eyes in vexation. That was the problem right there. Just why did his mother have to do that? Had it been anything else he would have done it without a second thought. But...her last wish that he get married...to that...No! He wouldn't. He couldn't.

It was her dying wish though, her only ask of him. Could he really upset his mother? Not to mention his di? The latter, he was no longer on speaking terms with, on account of his earlier reluctance to heed their late mother's wishes. For that matter, nobody in his entire family was particularly pleased with Arnav Singh Raizada who supposedly possessed no respect for his mother. As his muscles tensed and anger rippled through his body he lunged forward and in one swift movement pushed all the items on his desk onto the floor. There was a clattering of glass and a scattering of paper as it all went crashing to the floor.

"S***!"

Breathing heavily, he stood rooted for a few moments in blinding rage. Slowly he shut his eyes but her face was still implanted there, forever it seemed into his brain. Khushi... her name resounded through his head repeatedly. As slowly as he closed them he opened his eyes, the anger now diminished and replaced with a surreal sense of calm. Arnav sighed. He looked up at the ceiling of his cabin searchingly. His eyes began to cloud, as tears threatened to fall.

His voice came out quiet and choked. "Maa am I a bad son?...Tell me maa... Will you really be happy if I do this?"

***

"Khushi bitia this rishta is Nandkishore's blessing I am telling you! The boy's from a good family! The Raizada parivaar, you know the ones that live in Delhi! In fact he's a successful businessman-you know the one that always pops up on the TV and in the papers...what's his name again? A-A-A...I know it began with A..."

"Arnav Singh Raizada," Garima helpfully pointed out to her sister, who had been talking to her daughter for the past ten minutes, ever since she had got off the phone after receiving some quite hefty news.

Buaji's eyes widened as the name seemed to register in her brain, as if a light bulb had gone off. "Haa... Arnav Singh Raizada! I haven't seen the boy since he was little but he seems to have become very smart, very handsome! Gora, chita, lamba sa!"

It was now Khushi's turn to widen her eyes while munching on her seventh jalebi. Momentarily she forgot what she was doing on hearing his name and ended up gasping and choking on a bit of jalebi that went down the wrong way. She felt her cheeks flush as jiji and the rest of the crew all crowded round her, one offering her a glass of water while the other viciously thumped her back.

"*Cough*...*Cough* I'm ok," she stated embarrassed as she took the glass of water from her jiji's hand and shot a reassuring smile seeing the concerned faces of her mother, father and sister.

"Haire Nandkishore! Sanka Devi what is wrong with you? Where were you lost? I was talking about something important and here you are thinking about something else!"

"No buaji! I was listening it's just that I took a really big bite of my jalebi...that's all. Anyways I'm listening."

Buaji tsked but Khushi chose to ignore this, her aunts droning voice sending her off into her own trail of thought. She couldn't quite believe this was all happening. She blushed unconsciously. Arnav Singh Raizada...was this really happening?! When buaji had told her the news and about the proposal offered from his own sister, she could have squealed in delight. Arnav Singh Raziada was perfect-he was handsome, smart, rich and until now been completely out of her reach. Had you asked Khushi Kumari Gupta ten minutes prior whether she would ever meet, much less marry, the great ASR she would have laughed like a woman possessed at the absurdity of the notion. She had only ever seen the tycoon in the newspaper, which seemed to contain a daily article about one or another of his expansive list of enterprises. Khushi had admired him to say the least although it was the admiration you would feel for a film star...like Salman Khan for example. She had never dreamt that they would have some connection. Or that he would turn out to be that Vinod Uncle's son, the same boy she knew from her childhood when the Raizadas lived in Lucknow. Khushi could barely remember the boy though he seemed to have quite the temper if she remembered correctly, once breaking one of her tea sets in anger. Was that really him? She couldn't for the life of her believe it. His persona on the television was so cool, calm, collected, controlled...

"Sanka Devi... hai Sanka Devi!"

Buaji's calls awoke Khushi from her reverie.

"Ye-Yes buaji" she replied quickly.

Buaji sighed and brought a hand to rest on her head, obviously indicating her distress. "What am I going to do with you? Garima you explain to your daughter! Come on! Maybe she'll listen to you."

Garima shifted awkwardly in her seat. "But Khushi is quite young at the moment...marriage?"

Khushi froze, it just sinking in that she was too young. She was only nineteen! She still had her life to live ahead of her. And he was six years older than her...

"Oh Garima she's a grown-"

"Ha buaji why don't you get jiji married instead?" she shot a glance at her sister, whose eyes were in danger of bulging out of their sockets. Khushi beamed. What a fantastic idea! Jiji and Arnav Singh Raizada...

"What nonsense are you spouting Sanka Devi? Anjali-you remember that sweet, well-mannered sanskari girl Garima?" when she saw the questionee nod she continued, "well she has said her mother's last wish before she passed away was for YOU Sanka Devi to marry her son. So tell me how can we send Payaliya off to marry in that house. Hmm?"

Khushi looked at her jiji sheepishly but she on the contrary appeared rather relieved, the colour finally returning to her face.

"But why me? Why did Kamlesh aunty pick me?"

"Who knows Sanka Devi?"

"Kamlesh was always fond of you from the beginning Khushi beti. She would always look on at you and Arnav bitwa and say to me that when you were older, she would take you off my hands and make you her beti." Her babuji interjected for the time in the conversation, with a slightly regretful tone in his voice and a sad smile playing on his lips. He looked like he was about to cry.

Khushi immediately hurried to her babuji's side and knelt in front of him. "Babuji don't. I won't ever leave you!" her voice came out shaky.

"Stop acting childish Khushi! Of course you will have to leave. Sashi buawa tell her!"

Sashi looked up at buaji assertively. "Bas! We are not forcing Khushi bitia into anything," he turned his attention then to his daughter crying silent tears in front of him. He brought his hands up to clasp her face and bring her eyes up to meet his. "Khushi, both Vinod and Kamlesh were my very dearest friends. They've passed away now but they were the kindest and most decent people I've ever met in my entire life. I'm sure...I know their son will be the same. He will keep you happy and be able to supply your every demand. I'm not sure whether I can say that about any other offers we might get." He looked into his daughter's teary eyes searchingly for some comprehension. "Do you understand?"

As Khushi looked in her father's pale and sickly face and then raked her eyes over his ghostly form, she finally understood. He could provide her with everything she needed...desperately needed to make her babuji well again. To see her family happy again.

"I don't know how much longer I will be able to take care of you bitia..."

"Babuji!" the girl sobbed, shaking her head frantically. "Don't say that! You're going to be here to see your great great great grandchildren you got it? So don't even think about it!" She took her father's frail hand in her own and looked up into those eyes...the eyes that had once been set in the face of a man who had been as strong as a lion. She looked for traces of that man in the now standing remnants, relieved to find the steely stare still there telling her he would always be there, her pillar of support.

"Haa Sashi buawa!" came buaji's now shaky voice, her expression probably the same as all the other occupants of the room.

As she laid her head in her father's lap and felt his tremoring hand caress her hair she fought back her tears. "Theek hai" came her soft reply.

***

The next afternoon, the Gupta house was surrounded by hustle and bustle as everyone scurried to carry out the necessary preparations for the guests. Khushi and Payal had awoke early, one restlessly cleaning every nook and cranny of the house while the other got to the task of making all the food and sweets. They had heard the Raizada parivaar had set out in the early morning and would be with them by the late afternoon. On hearing this news Khushi had felt her stomach flip as butterflies overwhelmed her but had busied herself in the housework to distract herself from the nagging doubts. Nagging doubts such as whether they would approve of the humble Gupta abode. They were probably used to big mansions and palatial interiors, and Khushi knew full well that the little house on one of the side roads of Lucknow was probably not even a scratch on the surface. By the looks of it, the other members of the family were thinking the very same, as for the first time buaji had made her go out and buy new crockery and cutlery as well as a more fancy tablecloth and flowers to arrange on the table. That was saying something- the woman was a miser if anyone had ever seen one.

Now sitting in front of her dressing table while jiji was arranging her hair, Khushi felt those doubts drown her once again. He would be coming too. The one whose opinion most mattered. Would he like the house? Would be like her? Would he think her suitable?

"Khushi!" she felt her sister shake her slightly.

"Huh?" looking into her mirror before her she saw the perplexed look on her sister's face.

"What's wrong? You're alright aren't you?"

A fake, uneasy smile instantly shot to her lips as she placed a firm hand over her jiji's "Yes jiji".

Her jiji didn't look convinced. "Khushi-"

But there was no time, as the doors of the house opened and they heard buaji's excited greeting of "Namaste".

"Looks like they're here." Payal whispered.

Khushi bit into her bottom lip, feeling sick and her heart racing. They were here. It was real.

"Aye aye na!"

Khushi and her sister listened intently, as the pleasantries were shared.

"Ji Arnav bitwa?" Khushi held her breath.

Her heart sank when she heard a young woman reply. "Ji we're really sorry. Chotey couldn't make it, he had a very important meeting in Nanital..."

Khushi did not hear the rest of the conversation nor see jiji's apologetic look before she got back quickly to setting her hair.

***

"Sleep with me tonight."

Khushi refused to look back at the face of her husband, as he continued to grip her wrist rather painfully.

"Khushi?" This was all too fast, she didn't like it at all. She slowly turned round to look him square in the face, defiant.

"NO!"

Anger flashed in Arnav's eyes and he tugged at her wrist with such vehemence that his wife stumbled backwards onto the bed. Forcefully he planted himself on top of her, pinning her wrists to the bed, incapacitating her. Khushi shook up shocked and flinched when she saw his eyes. They were hard and unreadable...they scared her.

"Where did he touch you?" his voice was low and dangerous.

Khushi's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"Where did he touch you?" his voice rose with each word and his grip tightened around her wrists. Khushi's eyes began to water with the pain. Who was this man? This wasn't the caring one she had seen over the past few days.

"Ow Arna-" the sound was muffled with the shock as she felt his lips touch her neck. What was he doing? She tried struggling but he wouldn't give her an inch, continuing to trail his lips down her neck.

"Here?" Khushi squirmed, tears beginning to cloud her eyes. Holding now both of her hands captive with one hand, she felt his other cold hand bury under her chemise.

Khushi froze. "Arnavji?! No-"

"Or here?" he began leaving kisses lower along her collarbone. One of his hands cupped her breast and he continued his assault on her neck.

"How dare you let him touch you!" he hissed, his voice guttural and threatening.

"No! Arnavji no it wasn't there!...it was just on the lips!"

Her eyes widened with the shock of what she had just said. She looked up into her husband's face, which had darkened beyond measure. His jaw clenched and she could feel his whole body tense on top of hers. He had now let go of his grip on her wrists so that her hands were free but she kept them where they were, too scared.

He stared garishly at her intently for a few moments before he swooped in and claimed her lips savagely. Khushi brought her hands to push him back but he simply caught them and pinned them down to her sides, while continuing the punishing kiss.

The distant vibration of the phone finally made him stop, though he didn't lift himself off her. Finally after an eternity, he finally began to retreat, averting his eyes as the reality of what he had done came crashing down on him.

Guiltily he reluctantly looked down at his wife. He gasped inaudibly as he caught sight of her. Her chest was heaving up and down, her hair strewn everywhere messily, the bottom of her chemise risen above her torso while the sleeves were off her shoulders, her wrists red from where he had gripped them. He winced. He moved his eyes hesitantly up to look at her face and instantly rebuked himself, looking away. Her glare was accusing, her face flushed and red from her crying and her lips swollen. What had he done? In a fit of fury... She looked like she was about to be raped!

Not having the courage to take another glance, he clumsily stumbled off of the bed and quickly made his way to the glass doors, leading out onto the poolside. Without turning back, he mumbled "I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry!" desperately trying to hold back his tears. With that he opened the doors and walked into the dark of the night.

Yep...it's painful I know 😔 but I hope you like it anyway. Hopefully it cleared up some confusion but I realise it's probably raised ten more questions in its place.

PLEASE READ

Quick note: thank you SO much to the readers who comment, it's very much appreciated. To those who don't...well I really want to know what your views are on the story. It doesn't need to be a comment saying this is good or whatever, in fact I would much rather appreciate it if you said something about the story as in where it is leading, what you think about it-believe it or not. Especially to those people that don't even "like" the update, which are I know are numerous because the views on this ff much surpass the number of people who are actually liking or commenting, is that really fair? Fair enough if you didn't like the update but atleast then comment and tell me why. At the moment, I don't feel like continuing so if you don't atleast make an effort, this ff will come to an abrupt stop. I know this really isn't fair on the regulars but I feel the quality of my story-telling is just going down...

Sorry guys but you have to appreciate it takes a long time to write these updates and as you can tell I'm in a bad mood. Thank you so much to all the wonderful people who comment all the time though 🤗