Arhi FF: Ripped * Part 9 Update-pg23 19th Oct* - Page 7

This is veryyy intriguing !! I hope to see and read more updates!

Sorry for the late update guys! this one is long, and it's not all arhi, it's more flashbacks and background basics, and hopefully it wont piss you off with all the confusion :P

my writing style IS like this. i like to confuse readers. i know. i am weird.

but the next update will be wayy more interesting, i promise!

yes, i am winking at you. and you. and YOU.

To plagiarizers: f**k off.

Chapter Five

*

Khushi shrieked with laughter as she swung up higher and higher, her long hair flying in tangles.

"Higher!" she cried. "Higher, Jiji! Higher!"

"But Khushiii!" whined a six year old Payal. "It's my turn!"

"No it's not! You were on it for the last fifteen minutes!" yelled Khushi, blowing a raspberry at her sister.

"Well, you're younger than me, so get off!"

"NO! I won't! - AARGH!"

The swing halted abruptly and Khushi flew into the air, landing on her face a few metres away in a muddy splatter. Her eyes welled with tears as she hoisted herself up; the impact had hurt, and she could feel her chest, palms and elbows stinging. She tasted a salty wetness in her mouth and knew that she had bitten her tongue. But she wasn't one to back down - she roughly rubbed away her tears with her muddy sleeves and whipped around, furious. Payal was grinning triumphantly at her, her fists coiled around the chains of the swing. Khushi stomped towards her, prepared for battle, prepared to yank out fistfuls of Payal's hair until she was writhing on the ground.

"You -!"

"Khushi."

The rest of her sentence dissolved in her mouth as his quiet voice sent shivers down her spine. She stopped in her tracks and turned to find herself under his cold, stern gaze. Payal let out a happy grunt as she sat down on the swing, and Khushi felt herself tremble.

She had never felt this angry before.

And yet she did nothing but look at him blankly, unaware of the fact that her blazing eyes were giving her away.

"Lower your eyes. Now."

She wouldn't, she wouldn't, she wouldn't! She wouldn't -

"I said, lower your eyes, Khushi."

She looked at him for a long moment, her eyes changing into something that unnerved him.

And then Khushi's gaze flickered, and she cast her eyes down, staring at her feet.

"Yes, Babuji."

*

She jerked back to the present as her sister continued shouting at her, and she ducked as another jewellery box came hurtling at her.

"You little -! Tell me! Tell me what you did! Tell me why he couldn't keep his freaking eyes off of you all evening when it's me he's agreed to marry! Te-"

"Bas, Jiji! I told you already! It's not like that!!"

"Liar!" screeched Payal.

"Jiji - listen to me - humari baath suno -"

"No! I won't! Tell me what he said when he wanted to talk to you alone!"

"I told you, he said nothing!"

"I don't believe you!"

*

They were leaving, he had to do it now, or he would spend the rest of the night massacring his plants.

But what would he do?

Or say?

Her face flashed across his mind, and his heart thudded loudly in its yearning.

He struggled to pull his thoughts together, to string along one sensible sentence he could say to her without sounding absolutely insane.

The door clicked shut and he looked up to see that they had all left the hall.

*

"Jiji, I know why he wasn't looking at you!"

Payal scowled at her younger sister, considerably calmer than she had been a few minutes ago.

"Why?" she snapped.

"Because," lied Khushi, her mind racing, "I saw him blush so red after looking at you, that he had to look away!"

There was a pause. And then -

"Really?"

"Yes!" said Khushi enthusiastically, feeling immensely relieved. "And he wasn't looking at me at all! There was a pretty vase next to me, he was staring at that! You know, I bet it's his favourite!"

"Why was he staring at the vase?" Payal asked suspiciously.

"Because - because he couldn't bear to look anywhere else! Bohut sharma gaye the na! Iss liye!"

"Oh."

Payal huddled her knees together, deep in thought. Khushi held her breath, waiting for her sister to see through the ridiculous story she had made up - after all, there had been no such vase -

"You're right, he wasn't staring at you, I remember now."

Khushi grinned, and sat down beside her sister, throwing an arm around her.

"Exactly! And with you in the room, why would someone ever look at me?"

"Chup!" said Payal, blushing.

"What chup?" teased Khushi. "That blue sari you wore today was see-through! It really brought out your - er - best features, so to speak -"

Khushi ducked, laughing, as Payal, who had erupted into a fit of giggles, aimed a playful smack at her head. She started to get up when Payal held her back, her eyes beseeching, her face crumping with guilt.

"Khushi, I'm so-"

"Arreh! Ye kya, Jiji! Don't say sorry! I'm sorry! I should have broken that damned vase! How dare he stare at it instead of you!"

And their room filled with laughter once more.

*

His feet moved on their own accord as they lead him towards the door. His mind whirred furiously as he watched his hands move up and grasp the door handle.

What the f**k are you doing?

I don't know. Ask my hands.

Shut up you asshole! Do you even have a plan?

No.

You're just going to go outside and demand to speak to the sister of your future bride?

No.

Oh really?

-

I thought so. And what if they ask you why?

Err.

Exactly. Where are your brains, Raizada? -

The sound of car tires crunching on gravel punctured his thoughts, and without further ado, he pushed the doors open and raced outside.

*

Their laughter echoed in the house, ricocheting off the walls in the living room, where the three worried adults were sitting.

"At least they're back to normal," said Garima nervously.

Buaji glared at her.

"Normal? Normal? You think it's normal that the boy - our Payaliya's boy - had been staring at Sanka Devi for the entire time that we had been sitting there?"

Garima tensed, pulling at her fingers.

"Hai Nandkishore," sighed Buaji. "I told you Garima, that girl was bad blood from the start -"

There was a loud clink as Shashi Gupta set down his cup; Buaji's words faltered and died under his quelling gaze and Garima looked up at her husband with a sharp intake of breath.

"That's enough. It's time for bed. And turn the lights off."

The women obeyed silently, granting his unspoken wish and leaving him be as they made their way to their respective rooms. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted.

A wafting fragrance of fresh coconut, gorgeous silken hair -

He surfaced as a narrow beam of light struck his face. He shifted to a darker corner as the door to the girls' bedroom creaked open wider. Khushi popped her head out and scanned the dark room before making her way carefully across to the kitchen, where she started hauling out pots and pans by the number. A ladle fell to the ground with a loud clang and she gasped audibly, falling to her knees beside it and shushing it.

It was ten minutes later when Shashi made his way quietly to his daughter, slightly smiling at the pleasant sight that greeted him. She was sitting on the countertop, moonlight streaming blue on her hair, her cheeks bulging as she happily munched away on her precious jalebis. There was something infinitely familiar about her right at that moment, and when it finally hit him, he halted.

She was a vision in bright pink, sitting on top of the cart, munching away on her channas, her lips a dewy, rosy red. She beckoned him to come closer, promises of laughter dancing in her eyes -

"Get down this instant."

His voice was cold and angry, slightly trembling as the memories, vicious and unrelenting, tore away at his heart.

She dropped the jalebi as she scrambled off the counter, her chest constricted painfully tight with fear.

He studied her lowered face silently before softening his gaze; he realized he had frightened her, and felt angry at himself for letting his emotions betray him.

"What are you doing here?"

She held out the plate of jalebis with her small hands to answer him, her movements tentative. Then a smile broke across her face.

"Would you like some?"

"No," he said. Her face fell.

"But thank you," he added kindly.

She brightened up immediately, her eyes flashing with genuine warmth at his negligible niceness. He couldn't bear it. He turned away, telling her to go to sleep.

He had shuffled halfway across the room when he paused, realizing he was not done.

"Khushi."

The stream of gushing water against metal stopped with a pattering of drops as she turned the tap off, the metal squeaking against rubber. She squinted into the darkness to find him with his back turned, standing stock still in the middle of the living room.

"Ji, Babuji?"

It took him a while before he answered her. The silence in between was deafening. She could hear the tick-tocks of the clock as clearly as though she was the clock.

"You have quite a zest for life."

Khushi looked at him, clutching a plate tighter to herself, unsure of what to say.

"Just like your mother."

The plate fell from her slippery hands and crashed to the floor as a sudden tear escaped her eyes and scorched a path down her stricken face. She did not notice. He did not turn back. She watched him disappear into the darkness.

*

It felt like hours had passed when she finally crept in beside her sister, snuggling up close to her warm body. Her father's words rang in her ears as she promptly covered them with a pillow, and screwed her eyes shut, willing herself to go to sleep.

And then, right as sleep overcame her, a pair of haunting brown eyes swam lazily across her mind and imprinted themselves on the dark insides of her eyelids.

Khushi sighed. It was going to be a long night. She turned, her back to her sister, as all thoughts of sleeping went out of her head and memories from a few hours ago wove their magic and swallowed her whole.

*

His heart thudded loudly as he made his way towards the group, painfully aware of his each step, watching as though from afar as he stepped closer and closer to the girl in red whose name he had yet to know -

"Arreh wah! Chotte! What are you doing here?"

They all burst into knowing giggles and nudges and winks as he coloured visibly, his lips trying to form words that would be angry enough to send them all scattering. He shot an angry glance at the girl who had landed him in such a preposterous position, and felt furious with himself.

But his sister wasn't done.

"I know!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly. "Since Chotte wants to talk to Payalji, she could stay back! And then he could drop her off later!"

Arnav stood frozen, his mind reeling yet again.

"Di," he choked, his voice inaudible and barely above a hoarse whisper.

"Haire Nandkishore! Anjali bitiya, aseh kaise -?"

Arnav could have kissed the big, fat woman.

"Aap bilkul chinta maat kijiye, Buaji! Hum hai na!"

He glared at his sister, wishing she still wore her hair in pigtails so that he could pull it to his heart's content. He was just about to unleash his wrath when he saw her gaze land on her.

"I know! Why doesn't she stay back too?

He stopped breathing. His eyes flew up to meet her hazel ones and in that moment, he knew he was not alone. He could see it clearly. Reciprocation.

His sister was still talking.

"And then Chotte could drop them both off! Or even Akaash -"

"Okay bitiya, as you wish."

They talked some more about driving arrangements, but he wasn't listening.

She was staying back.

She was staying back!

He managed to look as indifferent as possible as he moved his eyes to the ground, genuinely interested in the worn look of his shoes. He frowned, making a mental note to shout at Hari Prakash in the morning.

The sound of giggling made his head snap up. The Gupta family had gone, it seemed, and his family and the two girls were looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to make the move. She, he noticed, was not giggling. She was standing beside her sister with her eyes demurely cast down, and she was staring determinedly at her feet, her fingers clasped around her red dupatta.

He was startled when Anjali went upto him and waved her hand across his face.

"Do you want to stand here and stare at her all night? Take her inside and then talk, it's getting cold!"

He rolled his eyes and stalked back into the house, huffing, leaving his sister slightly confused.

*

"Chotte, why're you here?" she hissed. "Do you have any idea how bad this looks? She's waiting for you downstairs! This is absolutely unacceptable, Chotte! At first you act like you want to talk to her, and so I do all that hard work -"

"Di, it's all your fault! You jumped to conclusions! Why did you make her stay?"

"What do you mean, why did I make her stay? Didn't you want her to stay?"

"No! No!!! I didn't!"

"Then why -"

"I only came outside to - to - speak to - to her sister. Yes, her sister!" he said with renewed confidence.

"What?"

"Her sister! Payal's sister. I need to speak to her. Alone," he added, for good measure.

"What for?"

"Erm - "

He spotted a bunch of old AR magazines lying in the corner, and the words formed as easily as though they were his true intentions.

"I want her to work in our company."

"What?"

"Yes. I think she would make a great model."

"Chotte. You have gone crazy. I don't think the Guptas would let their daughter be a model."

"There's no harm in asking," he snapped. "Just send her to me. I'll be at the pool side."

"But - what about Payalji? Should I send her up after?"

"What? No! After that, ask Akaash to drop them home, I'm tired."

*

She heard his phone ringing as she knocked on the door. There was no response. So she gently pushed open the door with clammy hands, and entered.

Her chappal made soft plops on the floor with her first few steps. She found him with his back to her as he rummaged in his pockets, probably trying to find his phone. He looked painstakingly handsome, she noticed. even when he had his back turned.

She clapped her hands on the sides of her face, mortified as she felt them heating up, gulping as her throat was suddenly robbed dry of all moisture.

"Hello?"

His gruff voice did nothing to soothe the sensations that whirled in her stomach. She shivered. It was then that she noticed where she was. The room was elegant, neat and very tastefully decorated. It was minimalism at its prime, she thought, grinning as she remembered her lessons at college. The theme was cool and grey, and the billowing curtains parted to give a beautiful view of a sea of luscious green, reflecting the ripples of blue from the pool. Her eyes made their way back to him, and she froze. There was something wrong. She could see it. His back had stiffened completely, and he was as rigid as cardboard.

*

He knew she had come into the room. All he had to do was ignore her for a few more minutes, talk with whoever was calling a bit longer than necessary -

Smirking, he answered his phone, very aware of her presence behind him.

"Hello?"

"ASR?"

And the world that he had come to know crashed around him once more.

*

She didn't know what had gotten into her. She was vaguely aware that she had crossed the room and placed her hand on his arm, gently turning him around. The sight terrified her.

He looked monstrous.

She leapt away as though scalded and took blind steps backwards, her eyes glued to his raging, mad ones. He had a wild expression on his face, something inhumane, sinister. Unadulterated fury shook through his body as he threw the phone away, both of them ignoring the loud crack as it hit the wall and split in two.

"What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" he gritted out between his teeth, his lips barely moving..

"You - you wanted to talk to me, remember?" stammered Khushi.

"Get out," he whispered, his voice deadly.

"Wha -what?"

"GET OUT!"

*

Khushi stared at the stars above her bed, replaying the whole scenario for the thousandth time in her head.

Who had called?

Curiousity burned through her as she turned on her side, facing her sister once more.

Tell me what he said when he wanted to talk to you alone!

Payal's voice reverberated loudly in her head as she snuggled up against her sleeping form.

"I wish I knew, Jiji," she whispered. "I wish I knew."

*

Miles away in his mansion, the raging animal tore down the last vestiges of his room, breathing heavily.

She was back.

"Lavanya," he whispered, before the screams finally wrenched free from his body and the night sky quaked in their raw grief.

***

i know you didnt like this one that much.

so feel free to rant away! i know a lot of you are confused, so please ask questions!

and pleaase, PLEASE comment! it was hard work writing this and it feels great when people take the time to leave behind their thoughts :)

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Chapter One and Two - Page 2: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2911961/arhi-ff-ripped-part-9-update-pg23-19th-oct?pn=2

Chapter Three - Page 4: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2911961/arhi-ff-ripped-part-9-update-pg23-19th-oct?pn=4

Note on Page 7: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2911961/arhi-ff-ripped-part-9-update-pg23-19th-oct?pn=7

Chapter Four - Page 7: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2911961/arhi-ff-ripped-part-9-update-pg23-19th-oct?pn=7

Chapter Five - Page 10: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2911961/arhi-ff-ripped-part-9-update-pg23-19th-oct?pn=10

Chapter Six - Page 14: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/56171263

Chapter Seven - Page 18: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/56853125

My Arhi SS(completed): Feelings (based on Arnav discovering Khushi and Shyam promo) -

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2780981/feelings-aftermaths-the-end-pg-19-arhi-os-ss

Loved it! Please pm me when you continue! Im sending you a buddy request! Please accept!

Okay I an officially hooked on this story. Wow is all I can say. The dynamic of the characters is so different from the show. Did Babuji have something going on with Khushi's mother or? And is it just me or does Payal seem a bit snotty? Of course her Aunt is a...you know what? I'm not even going to go there. Hopefully in he future chapters you will shed some light on Arnav and La. I absoutly love it and will be creepy stalking for an update!!

I don't...what? Ok what I got so far is:

Originally posted by: anumber1

I don't...what? Ok what I got so far is:

1) Babuji liked Kushi's mom (hence probably why he agreed to adopt her)

2) Lanvanya called and is back

3) Payal is selfish, spoiled, and has a temper

4) Kushi is treated like crap from her family

5) Guptas realized Arnav liked Kushi but want the rishta to go to Payal

6) Raizadas are as blind as ever

Did I get anything wrong?

lol
yeah, number 1, 4 and 5 are a bit off
i'm only going to clear up 4 and 5 - :P
so she isnt really treated like 'crap', per se - they just have less warmth towards her than what we see on the show.
the guptas are different here because they have a history which you will know about soon enough
they dont know why arnav was staring at her, they just know that he WAS - which doesnt mean they know he likes her. he doesnt even like her. yet. it's all attraction now :P
but you're totally right about the rishta thing!
as for payal, her character is still in the making. i'm not going to make her sit around like they do on the show, that's for sure.
and i love lavanya, so yeah. you'll see.
but number 6 is spot on! lol :P
thank you to everyone for reading this! means a LOT. :)

*edit*
hhahaha, i just read what i wrote. i'm sorry. i made absolutely no freaking sense :P
but i promise. all will be revealed.

oo...wonderful plot...i think the main drama starts now with Lavyna in picture...

Hey! As promised..I did read it. I read chapters 1 through 4 and they were fun to read. I saw that Ch 5 was longish and its late for me. Will catch up tomorrow. BTW, I like your short, snappy writing style. And I like the premise of Arnav and Lavanya having a child. If you haven't a name for their kid (and it's a boy?) might I suggest Lav. Lav is the name of one of Ram and Sita's twin sons. The other one's named Kush! (yeah...coincidence much! 😆)