FF: Arnav and Khushi On their way to Happily ever after
Chapter 5
Arnav knew she hadn't called him 'Amma' on purpose but it was annoying nonetheless, especially since she'd sounded so chipper when she'd said it. Quite unlike the stuttering squeak when she said his name. This is the thanks I get for calling in to check on her' he shook his head.
'Khushi,' he felt her name roll out like a caress, '' tm theek ho?'
There was silence on the other end. He waited before prodding, 'Khushi'?'
'H..han, hm theek hain'' she sounded surprised.
'Hmm' I asked De ke breakfast bedroom me he bhej den''
'Arnavji'' she interrupted, which told him a lot about her state of mind. She was probably bursting full of questions which couldn't be contained a moment longer. 'ap ne sb ko kia bta dia hai?'
'Kia bta dia hai?' He repeated; he had no idea what she was talking about.
Haan tou ab ye asay kr rahay hain jesay inhen kuch pata nahi hai' zaroor inhon ny he kuch kaha ho ga' 'Ap ghar kab aa rahay hain?'
Now it was Arnav's turn to be surprised, he wasn't expecting to get a response like this on his first day and first try. 'What'' but Khushi cut him off, 'Nahi' what the humain bhe kehna ata hai' aap jaldi ghar ayn hum aap sy baat krna chatay hain'or ye baat hum aap sy phone py nahi krna chatay', she finished in her stubborn voice. Arnav was not sure what she was talking about or what to say to her but he sure got curious. After all it was the 1st time Khushi ever asked him to come home early because she wanted to talk. 'Um'ok'' before he could say something else Khushi said 'Phir hum phone raktay hain' and she cut the line. What the' that was fast. He wasn't sure what just happened.
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Shyam stared at his reflection: his bare chest glowed in the sunlight reflecting from the washroom window, throwing his abs in stark relief.
There was huge bruise where Arnav had kicked him, on his lower abdomen. His face was an array of black and blue bruises, his jaw swollen and misshapen. Arnav's punch had dislocated it. He forcibly stretched his mouth open; his front teeth were chipped and they felt considerably loose. He looked so ugly'
I almost had Khushiji and then that ARNAV!!!!
There was a whoosh and then BANG, accompanied by the melodious sprinkling of broken class. Shyam had punched the mirror, shattering it.
He looked at himself in the broken parts of the mirror, revenge glaring in his eyes'
I won't back down that easy, Khushiji is my life and I'll break anyone who comes between us, I don't care anymore. She is MINE!!!! And always will be mine!!!... Arnav you'll have to pay' oh how you'll pay for stealing MY KHUSHI' for what you've made me look like! Curse you!
There was another whoosh and a crunch as he bloodied his knuckles on the already broken mirror.
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Arnav entered an empty living room and sighed with relief. Good, now he wouldn't have to face De's suspicious glare and awkward questions regarding his early homecoming. He was halfway across the stairs when'
"Chotay!" Anjali called out, coming from the kitchen with Payal.
Not again!!! Why do I always get caught? Arnav braced himself and turned around to face them.
'Chotay tum itni jaldi ghar'?' Anjali asked, smiling mischievously.
She caught Payal's eye and both of them blushed and started giggling. Arnav was totally confused. What's so funny?
He raised an eyebrow in question. Anjali attempted to be serious but failed, giggling again. 'Kuch ne chotay' tum jao' Khushiji upper he hain.'
Arnav shook his head'De's unbelievable.
He turned around to go upstairs when Anjali's phone rang. She checked the caller id, her face a mask of excitement, and told Payal. "Inn ka phone hai'"
SWISH! With a lightning speed Arnav had walked over to Anjali and snatched the phone from her and picked it up.
'DON'T YOU DARE CALL DE AGAIN!" He barked into the phone and disconnected it.
Anjali stared at him in shock. She was used his temper tantrums, lord knew he was angry enough, but she had never seen her CHOTAY like this; so furious, his jaw clenched, eyebrows snapping into a fearsome frown, he looked ready to kill. And his voice... For a moment he'd sounded murderous. It sent chills down both Anjali and Payal's spine.
What happened? Chotay inn sy asay kun baat kr rahy hain?
Arnav stared at the phone in his hand and contemplated crushing it into dust. That would surely keep that unfaithful, lying, lowlife bas***d away from De. But it wasn't his phone that he could throw away and it wasn't Khushi's either. Of course, that wasn't his phone either but somehow; he never really felt she was someone other than his'
Furious but respectful of De's property, he opened the cell phone and pulled out its battery. The he yelled, 'HARI PREKASH!'
'Chotay!!!' If Anjali had looked shocked before, she was positively scandalized now. 'Ye ap kia kr rhe hain?'
'HARI PREKASH!!' he yelled again, wanting to pummel something.
Hari Prekash appeared, looking a little pale. Arnav forced himself to speak calmly, though he wanted to yell and rant and spit out curses.
'Ghar pe agr Shyam aye to use andr nahi ane dena'' and eyeing De's shocked features, he added, 'and make sure ke wo De ya Khushi ke qarib na ai. Understood?'
'Ji Arnavbabu,' Hari Prekash hastened to agree, though he appeared curious. It was a good thing he was a trusted servant. Dismissing him with a nod, he turned to go upstairs.
He needed time to compose himself and lower his temper before telling De anything. He'd promised himself he'd give Shyam one and only one chance to prove himself worthy of De and repentant of his unfaithful ways. And Shyam had wasted that chance.
He didn't want to hurt De, would rather stab himself than see De in pain but' this time, Shyam had gone too far. And Arnav would be damned if he let him get away with it. He could have him put away for attempted rape but not before De was apprised of the circumstances. She'd been his wife for years and if anyone deserved the truth, it was her.
However, De had other plans. She grabbed his arm; he could've pulled himself away but he was a loath to do so. She would be hurting badly soon enough; no need to add to it. He didn't face her though. She might see the murderous rage in his eyes and it might scare her. Worse, she might try to stop him.
'Chotay, hmain jwab den! Ye ap kaisi batain kr rhe hain? Kia hua hai?' De demanded. He remained quiet, not going away but not talking either. Inexplicably, he felt the urge to cry.
De came to stand in front of him and he blinked away the stray tears that had gathered in his eyes. 'Chotay ap humain jawab deyay baghair nahi ja saktay.' She stated, pulling Payal beside her in a show of support. Payal straightened her shoulders, nodding her agreement.
'De,' his voice sounded hoarse, his throat was so dry. 'Me ap ko sb bta dun ga' you must know' but' De mai' I can't see you get hurt!'
De's expression was heartbreaking, a mixture of confusion, hurt and that vulnerability that always made him want to protect her. Her voice impossibly quiet, she asked, 'Chotay kia hua hai? Ab ap hmain dra raha hain...'
There was a quiet scrape and Arnav looked up to see Khushi standing stock still, her face a mask of pain and regret. Payal followed his gaze and met Khushi's eyes. Something went on between the sisters and she turned to look at Arnav again, her expression infinitely sad.
Of course, she must've known about the engagement as well' his heart twisted. They'd done so much to protect De, all for nothing. He met Khushi's eyes; she nodded, swallowing. He turned to Anjali and softened his voice,'De ap baith jain...'
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Khushi's heart was thudding so hard it felt like it would explode from her ribs. She'd kept her engagement to Shyamji a secret to save these people from the pain revealing the truth would elicit. Already, it had wreaked havoc on Arnavji.
He was holding on to himself but she could see the cracks in his calm faade ' his jaw was clenched too tight, his hands fisted as if he wanted to hit something and his eyes were the worst: they were filled with anger, regret and so much pain, it hurt Khushi even from this distance. He was like a man watching his house burn but unable to douse the fires ' utterly and completely helpless.
And Anjaliji looked like she'd seen a ghost. Her eyes were wide and fearful, her mouth trembling, like she was about to cry. Jiji had placed an arm around her shoulders in a comforting gesture.
Khushi's eyes returned to her pati. He'd closed his eyes and was rubbing the bridge of his nose as if to ward off a headache. His hands were shaking.
Kitna mushkil ho ga na in ke lia'she wondered. Jo shaks hr chez ko apna ikhtiar me smjhta ha us ke lia to' she couldn't find words strong enough to describe what he must be feeling. Her heart went out to him.
Try as she might, she couldn't maintain her anger towards Arnavji too much. Sure she got angry at his lousy treatment but she couldn't fault him for trying to protect De. After all, that was the very reason she'd hidden the truth from Arnavji when she'd broken off with Shyamji. She couldn't bear to see either De or Arnavji in so much pain.
Pr ab to hmain De ko sb btana paray ga' Shyamji to roz broz aur nadar hotay ja raha hain. She had had the nightmare again this morning, only there'd been no Arnavji there to hold her. She had missed him terribly, despite her annoyance at his implication that she was pregnant. And now, seeing him looking so wretched, decided her. He needed someone to support him, whether he admitted it or not. And this concerned her as much as it concerned De.
She walked towards Arnavji, stood beside him and took his hand in hers, silently offering him support. They both turned to face De who looked a mite scared.
Khushi looked at Payal, willing her to start. Payal cleared her throat. 'De''
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Edited by Mariam.Ejaz - 13 years ago
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