Edited
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Guys as usual looking fwd 2 ur comments. love reading them all 😃
Part 2
What had just transpired between them. Had he really relented & made space for her stuff. He had even patiently explained about the shower to her. She was totally flummoxed by this maddening enigma by the name ASR. When you think he ll be loving he turns out to be your worst nightmare. When you prepare yourself for the worst he melts you with his gentleness.
She shook her head & started getting ready. But she was getting delayed by her own antics. She went to the shelves & touched his stuff lovingly. She even sniffed his cologne deeply & broke into a smile. His towel, his shaving kit all reminded her of him making her woolly headed & tizzy. She gave herself a mighty shake & got ready in haste. She wore the sari that he had chosen yesterday morning & the bangles that he had gifted her. GOD was it only yesterday. It seemed a life time ago.
She went down & got busy with the kitchen chores. She was sad to see Nani completely ignoring her. She had always showered love & kindness & hence Kushi was heart-broken to find Nani cold shouldering her now. She darted a look at ASR who was lost in a newspaper not bothering to even look at her. She cursed him silently & went inside the kitchen again.
He was furtively glancing at her from the corner of the newspaper watching her every action. He had seen the disappointment on her face when Nani had ignored her & felt guilt stab him. It was his decision to get married in secret without informing anyone. But then he was helpless because if Shyam had an inkling to his plan he would have come up with some dirty scheme to hamper him. At least now Kushi was safe.
WT*. What did he just think. He was trying to protect Di right. Then where the hell did Kushi's safety come into the picture. He sighed. No use lying to himself. He had married Kushi not just to save Di's marriage & her unborn child. If he was honest the very thought of Kushi with some other man leave alone his creepy jijaji made his blood boil & then turn cold in his veins. He just couldn't bear the mental image of her hugging & making love to some other man. He clenched his fists in his trademark style. He stood up quickly & started walking when Anjali's voice stopped him.
"Arrey Chote have your breakfast before you leave. Kushi has prepared all this stuff with so much effort."
His jaw stiffened & he glared at his wife & replied in a low growl.
"No Di I am not hungry"
He left hurriedly but in that split second before he turned he had caught the forlorn look on Kushi's face. She looked broken & defeated her shoulders sagging miserably.
No he ll not give in. He will not allow her into his heart again. Was it a statement or prayer he wondered? Damn he had forgotten his mobile which he had placed on the table while pretending to read the paper. He cursed loudly & turned back.
"Nani breakfast is ready."
"No Anjali bitiya I ve lost my appetite. You guys carry on."
This was the final straw. First Arnavji & now Nani. Kushi couldn't stop the tears now & rushed to the kitchen while Anjali stood helpless sporting a worried frown.
"Chote what are you doing? I thought you had left"
He had been shaken by her tears. No matter how much he tried he couldn't deny the fact that her tears still affected him. Her pain still moved him. Was this what it felt to fall hopelessly in love.
"CHOTE". Anjali's shout brought him out of his reverie.
He strode furiously to the dining table, sat & started pulling all the bowls noisily towards his plate.
Anjali just stared at him. Her mouth opening & shutting soundlessly like a goldfish.
Realizing that he needed to explain his actions he spoke finally.
"WOH Di I just remembered that I ve meetings the whole day & may not get time to eat once I reach office. I know how much you freak out when I miss my meals & subsequently my medicines. That's why..." His voice trailed off. Anjali shrugged & left on an errand.
Kushi had heard the whole conversation from the kitchen & her heart did a little happy jig. He was eating. Suddenly she remembered something, gasped & rushed out.
He had never tasted anything this delicious. She has actually made parathas his favourite dish. He remembered her DIDI TERE JETJI song & felt a lump in this throat. He shook his head & was about to grab a bowl when her hand arrested his movement. He looked him into those hazel eyes & became still. She was not wearing any makeup or jewellery. He realized with a jolt that she was wearing the sari he had selected & the bangles that he had gifted. Apart from the bangles the only other accessory was the mangalsutra dangling accusingly around her neck. She was simply lovely. No denying that & he found himself falling in love all over again.
"WOH Arnavji not that. It's It's spicy. I made a sep separate dish for you since you like less spicy, blander food."
She was stammering nervously & he closed his eyes. Why did she do this. Everytime he tried desperately to hate her she did something like this just to break his heart.
Silently he took the dish she had thrust under his nose & started eating. Kushi seemed rooted to the spot. There was a tense silence broken only by Kushi's rapidly increasing heartbeat. She had a mad urge to run her fingers through his hair & then over his sexy stubble.
"ACCHA THO YEH BAAT HAI. Chote if you had simply told me that you want your wife to serve food I would have called Kushi. Why all this drama about not eating & then changing your mind."
Anjali's voice startled both of them. Kushi blushed while Arnav bolted the rest of the contents down his throat, grabbed his mobile from the coffee table & departed leaving behind a smirking Anjali.
"Well Kushi. I am glad that marriage is having a positive effect on my grumpy chote." She winked at Kushi & left laughing happily.
Kushi was sitting near the poolside near his beloved plants thinking of all their encounters there when Payal came & sat silently next to her.
Kushi turned & looked at her serene face & couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Payal made her rest her head on her lap & patted her gently.
"Kushi you have got to tell me what happened. I know that you must have been helpless to do something like this. I promise that I won't talk to you till you confess"
Kushi broke down completely & narrated everything that had happened starting from Shyam's dastardly act to Arnav's outburst on their first night.
Payal was furious.
"How dare Arnavji blames you. I will go & explain everything to him even if it means I have to lock him in a room, tie him up & oh gag him as well."
"Please jiji he was desperate to save his sister's life just like how I was desperate to save yours. He hates me due to all this misunderstanding but deep down he actually loves me. This is painful & traumatic for him as well. If you have to blame anyone blame that creep who has destroyed all our lives."
"Kushi what will you do now."
"I ve to try & win back Arnavji's trust jiji."
Payal sighed & got up. I am not very hopeful Kushi considering his temper & blind fury. But still remember that you are not alone. Amma & Buaji might have deserted you but I ll never ever do the same. She left not able to stand Kushi's pain anymore.
She felt someone near her & turned to find his lecherous face just inches away. She jerked away, got up hurriedly & shouted at him.
"What are you doing in my room."
"Well Kushiji this is not actually your room. This pool side to open to all."
She snarled at him.
"No this is Arnavji's personal space. Don't you dare sullify this place with your filthy presence! GET OUT right now or I will scream."
He held her wrist in a vice-grip & pulled her. She struggled against him trying to free herself. She wrenched her hand away & tried to flee. She stumbled & fell. The next second she went crashing into a pot breaking it spilling all the contents. The entire place was a mess with mud & clay all around her. Shyam fled immediately afraid that people would come attracted by all the noise.
WT*
Never had she been so relieved to hear that trademark expletive. She got up only to be grabbed roughly.
Office turned out to be hell. He couldn't concentrate on work & was annoyed by the growing look of alarm on Aman's face. ASR understood what Aman was thinking. He was worried that his employer the mighty ASR has actually lost his marbles. Finally he had left office in disgust deciding to go home & rest. WT* he sweared. Not that he was going to get any peace back there. She would be there to torment him. He immediately remembered her looking wet & hot. He ran his fingers through his tousled hair. Marriage was a wrong idea. It was turning out to be a nightmare. He just couldn't seem to stay away from her. Her satin skin drove him mad with desire. He was disgusted with himself. How different was he & his lusting from that lecherous find. He was no better. He suddenly felt pity for Kushi. She definitely deserved better men not the Shyams & the ASRs of this world.
He had just reached his room when he heard a resounding crash as if there had been a bomb blast. He rushed out & the spectacle that met his eye left him momentarily speechless before he uttered his signature dialogue.
WT* he yelled again.
"What have you done now. How many times do I need to tell you not to touch my stuff. Why do you always destroy things which are beloved to me. My Di, my plants. What have I done to you? That pot contained daffodil seeds. I had had them flown all the way from Europe. They are an extremely rare variety & now all of them have been destroyed. Kushi Kumari Gupta can you ever do anything right once in your life? Why don't you just leave me alone, get out of my life. I wish I had never met you. Oh I would give anything right now to just make you disappear from my life. I just wish I never see your face again."
He stormed out leaving her once again heart broken. This time she was too numb to even cry. As if in a trance she moved to their room, sat on the couch staring at the ceiling.
Dinner was a painful affair. Arnav was uncomfortably aware of her absence. He already had to cook up some wild story to Di & what was more he had to face an icy glare from Payal who seemed to be shooting visual daggers at him.
He entered his room to find her still in the same immobile position. He had another attack of guilt but realizing that whatever he said or did will only make things worse, went & lay on bed. Exhausted he fell into an uneasy slumber.
She was on tenterhooks. His face kept flashing before her eyes & she wanted to scream out loud. Marriage to ASR hasn't deterred that fiend at all. He was getting bolder by the day. The only person who could comfort her was oblivious to her pain sleeping happily near by. She was breaking into cold sweat. The very thought of Shyam attacking her again made her throat go parched. She was actually shaking. Finally she could take it no more & ran towards the bed.
He was sleeping & she realized that if she was careful enough she could get away with her plan. Gently she clambered onto the bed, crawled near him & lied down near his feet. She curled into a ball almost into a fetal position. His presence, his physical proximity reassured her & she immediately fell asleep.
He was having terrifying nightmares. In all of them Shyam was attacking Kushi relentlessly. He was trying his best to reach her, protect her but somehow he was unable to reach her.
"Kushiii" He screamed & woke up his body drenched in sweat. He was actually shaking. He tried to get up from bed when his left leg hit something soft.
WT*. He glanced at his bed & he almost stopped breathing. She was curled up near his leg, one of her hand lightly hugging his leg.
Kushi he whispered, bent towards her & shook her awake.
She opened his eyes to find those intense eyes blazing with concern & pain. Something inside her snapped. She swooped on him & hugged him tightly all the while sobbing hard.
His mouth went dry. Her sobs were gut-wrenching.
"Sshhh Kushi. Don't cry. I am sorry for yelling at you. Don't worry. I will get another consignment shipped over. Don't cry."
She simply clung to him desperately. He fell on the bed softly taking her along with him. He kept caressing her hair, her cheeks & back gently & found her relaxing slowly. After a few minutes she was breathing heavily signaling that she had fallen asleep.
Long after she had slept he continued to hug her & caress her.
Edited by Angels11 - 13 years ago
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