"You DON'T hate me?" Khushi said confusedly...
Her eyes searched his...
"No...I don't hate you..."
They were silent...
Finally Arnav broke the silence and said, "I...I'll go and get something to help with the pain..."
"No...I'm fine..." she said curtly as she tried to shift her body...
Finding it harder than she thought, she let out a quick cry of pain...
"Khushi! Stay still damnit! There are painkillers in the bathroom, just don't move!"
Arnav disappeared and quickly returned, demanding that she take the medicine...
"they are strong and work fast, so you shouldn't feel any pain soon...they'll also make you quite tired, so just settle back...I will be sleeping on the couch..."
Khushi just nodded...
...
As Khushi slept, hazy dreams and forgotten memories were returning to her...
Holi...
Arnav...
Music...
Dancing...
Khushi smiled in her sleep as her dream was sparking hidden moments that had been suppressed by drinking Bhaang...
She turned to lay on her side and unknowingly hit her hand...
The pain that rippled through her hand struck another dimension in her subconscious...
Shyam.
His attempt to colour her.
His hand dragging her away as he trapped her against the tree.
His palms on her face.
"...no...don't...don't touch me...don't! DON'T TOUCH ME! YOU DISGUST ME! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!..."
"SHYAMJI I BEG YOU!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!"
...
Arnav saw Khushi fall asleep peacefully...
His mind began to fill with all the times their eyes had made love to each other...
They didn't have to touch to feel the heat and intensity of their passion ...
But now that he'd kissed her...
Arnav felt his muscles tighten...His groin started to buzz...
"I love her..." he breathed as he sank into a deep sleep...
As he slept, his mind replayed all the betrayal...
Arnav woke with a start and felt acute jolts of pain in his heart...
"I love her...I LOVE HER and she...she..."
He stood up and walked over to her...he looked at her...
"beautiful..." he thought...
But his heart still hurt ..."I don't want to believe that she would...but what i saw..."
Her small cries jolted him to attention...he saw that she'd rolled onto her injured hand...
He sat beside her on the bed and slowly moved her off her hand and onto her back...
She started to mumble..."...no...don't..."
He stared at her thinking she was awake...but her eyes were closed fast...her dreams controlling her words..."...don't touch me...don't! "
Arnav was livid..."even in her DREAMS she's trying to get away from me..."
Anger and fear was spreading inside him ...he was furious that she didn't him to touch her...his thoughts raged at her..."Well don't expect for me to let your lover touch you!"
Her hands started to flail about trying to push something away..."DON'T TOUCH ME! YOU DISGUST ME! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!..."
Brutally, Arnav grabbed her hands, not caring for her pain, and harshly pressed them to her sides...
He was about to yell at her to wake her when her next words sent shards of bullets hurling into his heart...
"SHYAMJI I BEG YOU!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!!!"
Arnav instantly released her hands...
His eyes were open wide...
His heart beating fast...
His mouth open in shock...
He heard her sobs as he noticed her sore hand trembling...
Taking her hand in his, he held it gently...new bruises were forming on her fingers...
Sharp twinges pierced at his heart...
"She wants Jijaji to stop touching her?...she disgusts him? She wants him to leave her alone?"
He thought back to what he saw on the terrace...their hug...no...SHYAM's embrace or her...her arms tensed and unmoving...
Her words ..."if this marriage mean so little to you then why don't you break it! Leave Anjaliji!"
"What did she mean? Did Jijaji hurt her? Was Shyam up to no good? Was Khushi asking Shyam to leave Di because she was trying to protect...oh God..."
Suddenly stricken with dread, the misunderstanding dawned on him...
All Arnav could do was exhale his words... "oh my God...what i did to her...what i made her do...what I've said to her..."
Arnav stayed by her side...he held her hand softly...as though she would break if he let go...
He sat next to her until the sun started to rise...
As the light hit her face he saw her glowing with purity, beauty, and innocence...
Arnav couldn't fathom how unlimited her strength seemed to be...how her attitude still had positivity to it...through it all, she still even showed care for HIM...
His anger wanted to break her...
Arnav closed his eyes in despair...
As Khushi's eyes opened slowly ...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Mythology
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