"Khushiji?"
Arnav lifted his head hearing his Di's voice...
He stood up ready to rush over to Khushi...ready to play the 'happy' husband and wife...
But he stopped cold...
"No..." he thought..."I can't do that to her anymore..."
Anjali and Payal entered the room to see Khushi sleeping...
They turned and saw Arnav standing at the poolside entrance...
"Chote? Why are you outside?"
Arnav walked towards them and stood in front of Payal...
"I'm so so sorry. She WAS running from me. I...I yelled at her...Payal, Please forgive me..."
Payal looked over to Khushi...then back to Arnav..."It's okay Arnavji...Married couples fight...it was not your fault...it was just an accident..."
Arnav's heart constricted...he could hardly breathe...
"it was...I...I thought..."
"Chote..." Anjali lifted her hand to her brother's face..."She will be okay...don't blame yourself..."
Payal nodded..."We will come back in while...just take care of her... Like we already know you do..."
...
He was now alone with Khushi again...
As he slumped down next to her on the bed, he saw her bruised hand, her bruised arms...
His voice came out raspy and despondent..."I deserve these marks of pain...how...how can i ever make this right?...how will she ever forgive me?...how many 'sorrys' will be enough?...why did i do this to you?...when all this time I only wanted to love you..."
Khushi moved slightly and cried out in pain...
His ears thundered as her pained voice echoed though his head...
"For all the times i never bloody listened to you..."
His tears now stung his cheeks...
"For all the times you cried..."
His clamped his eyes shut...
"For all the times you hid away in fear..."
His heart ached...He clutched his chest...
"For all the heartache i gave you..."
He laid his head down next to her...
...
Khushi started to stir...
Feeling achy all over...
She sat up in bed and froze when she saw Arnav laying asleep next to her...
Quickly, she attempted to stand...
"Khushi?"
She turned to see Payal standing in the doorway...
"Jiji...shhh..." and she pointed to Arnav sleeping...
Payal walked over..."Come sit by the pool...i'll get you some tea..."
Khushi nodded as her sister held her arm and walked slowly with her outside...
Finally sitting, Payal spoke..."I know why you were running down the stairs..."
Khushi's worried eyes shot up..."I just tripped, I was hurrying...it's wasn't anything Jiji, really..."
"no no...don't worry...Arnavji told me that you two had been fighting..."
"w...what?" Khushi was already feeling dizzy, now she was completely dumbfounded...
"Yes, he told me and Di that he had been unfair to you and that's why you were running..."
Payal sat in front of Khushi..."I was so worried...I love you so much Khushi...my hands were shaking as i held your hand...I...I got so mad when you fell that i lashed out at Shyam..."
"Jiji...no...please tell me that you didn't..."
"no don't be alarmed...Arnavji was there...Di had gone to phone for the doctor..."
"Oh no...Oh my God...Oh no..." Khushi now felt terror sweep through her...
"Khushi! Shhh... Di didn't find out...it's okay...let me get you some tea..."
Khushi stared nervously as her sister left the room...
Her head was pounding...
Her heart was exploding...
"Arnavji is going to be so angry...he knows...he knows about Shyam...he knows about Shyam and Me...oh my god...he already hated me...and now he will hate me more...how will i explain to him?...how will i convince him that i never wanted to hurt Anjaliji?...How many "sorrys" will i have to say?"
"Khushi..."
She looked over and heard him mumble her name in his sleep...he was starting to wake up...
...
Arnav stretched and opened his eyes...
His eyes were still tired and heavy...
He rapidly sat up, remembering what had happened...
Looking over, he saw that Khushi wasn't in bed...
He began to panic and was about to jump up to find her when he immediately paused...
Khushi was kneeling beside the bed...
Still half asleep and baffled, he whispered..."k...Khushi?"
She looked up at him, her eyes overflowing with emotion...
Lifting her hands, she held her ears and said brokenly..."Sorry..."
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
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