SS-Mrs &Mr ASR-Until Death does us apart P7 PG 84 - Page 15

|| sharanye tryambake gauri naaraayani namostute ||

It felt so right. Oh it did. Holding her like this as if she belonged to him & only him. Caressing her pain, hurt & fears away. Fighting his own pain, hurt & fears away. This was how it was meant to be. ALWAYS. Why did he still love this girl who had snatched away his Di's happiness in a ruthless manner. Why did he still care, still want to protect her. Why did her one hug or touch bring him alive only to send him crashing back into a dark abyss of mind-numbing agony. Why did he still feel that she was HIS. Why did he still feel that he had a right over her. Why did he want to love her his entire lifetime & beyond. Why? Why? He fell asleep still hugging her, her head nestled in the crook of his neck.

Her eyelids felt heavy but the rays streaming in through the French windows teased & taunted her. She opened her eyes lazily. For some strange reason she felt very relaxed & contented with a smile on her face. She was confused. What the hell was there to smile & cheer about. She tried to move but seemed to be stuck in a vice-like grip. She drank in her surroundings & her mouth flew open. She was literally lying across Arnav, her face snuggled up near his neck, her hand on his chest, his hands were around her waist hugging her intimately. GOD it felt like heaven. From that weird angle she could actually see the light breeze wafting into the room playing mischievously with a few strands of his tousled hair ruffling it, making him look so delectable. He looked absolutely yummy & edible this close. She realized with a start that her lips were actually, ACTUALLY touching just touching his neck below his ear. Had she actually died & landed in HEAVEN. Was this actually her hallucination, her version of heaven after death. If so she preferred to stay this way for ever not wanting this intoxicating vision to ever end. Let it go on. Hey Devi Maiyya, please don't make me wake up. Please.

And as usual her Devi Maiyya had other plans. She felt Arnav stir below her & she panicked. OMG what will she do now. It was too late to crawl out of the bed unnoticed. When she remembered yesterday night's events she blushed. She had shamelessly flung herself at him. He already thought lowly of her, as a TART, a scarlet woman. Yesterday night would have just reinforced his views. She felt him wake up & became extremely still. Maybe she could escape his wrath by pretending to be asleep.

He woke up with a faint smile dancing on his lips. For some strange reason he felt very relaxed & contented. After a long time he had actually slept well. He felt something soft pressed against him. He shifted slightly & as usual the sight took his breath away. She was lying across him in an extremely intimate manner. Every cell in his body was screaming in delight. GOD this is what heaven must feel like. This was how one was supposed to fall asleep her soft, tender frame pressed against his hard body & then waking up lazily in the morning with her still in his arms. He was ready to give his right arm to relive this moment again & again & again. She was still asleep blissfully oblivious to his inner struggle. He lifted his hand & ran it through her silky hair. He then pressed his lips against those black tresses. He ran his fingers lightly over her back, tracing her spine & resting on her waist & it took all her will power to stop from screaming out loud his name. He was continuing with his torture blissfully oblivious to the blazing fire raging within her. Every cell in her body was screaming in response to his touch. He continued to caress her & then he planted a feather light kiss on her forehead. Kushi he murmured in that sexily husky voice of his. Just when she thought that she might die of a stroke he stopped mercifully, gently shifted her & got up.

He looked at her one last time before disappearing into the bathroom. She expelled a deep breath which she had holding all this time. Oh she hated him, hated him from the bottom of her heart. How did he manage to affect her every time he came near her, touched her, kissed her. Why did she keep falling hopelessly in love with him again & again & again. Why? Why? She closed her eyes in despair not wanting to face him when she was so weak & vulnerable. He would only hurt her again.

He came out to find her still sleeping. He sighed & left not wanting to wake her up.

She came down to find him missing. Anjali informed her that he had left early for office. Aakash was just about to leave when she ran & held his hand.

"Jiju can you please do a favour for me."

"Of course Kushi, shoot".

Kushi explained what she wanted & a huge smile broke across his face. Kushi started blushing immediately & worse still started stammering. Aakash interrupted her gently.

"It's ok Kushi I understand why you are doing this."

"Please, please jiju don't tell Arnavji."

Aakash looked at her desperate face, nodded & left still smiling.

He was staring at the small house without blinking. It was a house he was very familiar with, her house, her family. He swallowed nervously wondering how they would react to him. Especially Buaji. He shook his head. No he couldn't risk facing them now. He had to wait till the women left so that he could catch Shashiji alone. That was his best chance. He saw Garima & Buaji leave for some shopping muttering noisily.

He immediately made a move.

Shashi heard the door open & stared at the man who had just entered his room with shock.

"Hello Shashiji I have come here today not as the ruthless business tycoon Arnav Singh Raizada but as a broken defeated brother Arnav."

Shashi continued to stare at Arnav. He was still confused as to why his angel, his Kushi had married this man in haste but somehow he approved of this man though he had seen him only a few times. He felt himself trusting him.

"I came to explain about yesterday's events since you have a right to know. Yesterday Kushi's entire family disowned her for no fault of hers. I had forced her, coerced her, intimidated her into marrying me. She married me only to save her jiji's happiness since I threatened to stop the marriage if she dint agree. I did this to stop that creep Shyam from abandoning my Di. I was cruel & selfish & I understand that you absolutely loath me. I have not come here to apologize because given a choice I would do the same again & again to save my Di's happiness, my Di who is almost my mother. I came today to tell you the truth so that you don't end up hating Kushi like the rest of your family. It will simply break her. She is alone & I don't want her to lose the trust & love of the person who means the world to her, you her beloved Babuji. Please try to understand that she was helpless."

Having said his piece he no longer had the courage to face Shashi & turned to leave when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to find Shashi lightly holding his hand. He gulped. Maybe he wanted to slap me hard for hurting his angel, his daughter.

He knelt beside him waiting for the resounding slap that never came. Shashi placed his hand on his head & silent tears were rolling down his cheeks. He was looking at him & suddenly he understood what he was trying to say.

Arnav felt a lump in his throat. He gripped the old man's hand gently.

"I promise that I will look after her, protect her from that creep. I will ensure that no one hurts her. You have the word of Arnav Singh Raizada."