FF:Worth of Water! *NEW* EPILOGUE PG.111 - Page 62

Chapter 14:

"Arnav let's dance!"

"I don't dance!"

"Arnav, I know I'm not really your wife but come on! It's just a dance."

"I really don't dance! I don't know how to."

'You don't know how to dance? Toh phir sangeet ke din kya dance ka bhoot chada tha aur phir honeymoon ki din bhi?(Then what happened on the sangeet day, did the ghost of dance possess you and even the honeymoon day?)'

"Hey Arnav and Khushi!"

"Hi, Alisha!"

"Hey." Khushi blandly responded.

"Arnav, why are you just standing around? Let's dance!"

"Sure!"

'So you don't know how to dance!'

Arnav and Alisha were dancing close even with the loud music. Alisha was freely dancing and Arnav was buzzing around her like a bee around a pollen-filled flower!

'Look at him all wrapped up in her! It's like he's trying to make me jealous! Khushi, behave! You're not his wife! Of course I am! I still have the unsigned divorce papers. Am I really his wife? Yes, I am! I still love him too! What is this confusion? Why this confusion? He loves me! I think I have to tell him the truth!'

Khushi was fuming with anger as she saw the two of them dancing. She had had enough! She walked out of the club and began walking on the deserted road with tears in her eyes. With those teary eyes she looked up at the sky and she searched for the brightest star up there!

"Amma, isn't this what I wanted? Didn't I want him to be happy? If he's found someone who makes him happy then why is it hurting me? Why do I want to be the reason he smiles? Why do I want to make him happy? Amma, guide me! Should I tell him? Maybe I should hint it and wait for him to take the hint? I see him suffering for Khushi every day! I've seen him crying on the pool side for his Khushi! I am his Khushi and I can't even tell him! Please Amma! Help me! What have I done to deserve so much hatred from him? I always loved him, but he always pushed me away from him! Wait! That's the answer! He always pushed me away because he wasn't aware of his feelings! If I make him truly fall in love with me then. . . then everything will be alright! Thank you Amma! Talking to you always make everything better! I know just what I'll do! You never know the worth of water till the well is dry! The well is going to dry up and he is going to know the worth of water!"

*****

"Khushi? Excuse me have you seen a girl wearing a short blue dress with sequence."

"She was mad and she left!"

"SHE LEFT! Damn it! Where the hell would she go this late at night? She lives in Mumbai, but she acts so naive! I hope she's alright! Hey Devi Maiyya!"

Arnav left the club after informing Alisha he was leaving. He began walking on the deserted streets looking for Harshita.

"Harshita! Harshita!" He had walked himself home and now he was tired! He walked up to his room and saw she was peacefully sleeping on the bed. He sighed in relief!

*****

"Khushi, why did you leave the club last night and come home without telling me?"

"It was getting late and I had to put Arshi to sleep."

"Oh! You should've told me. I mean you walked home; you could've taken the car. Alisha would've dropped me off."

"I just wanted time to think. Sorry."

"It's okay! I was just a bit worried."

"About me?"

"Yes, of course! I brought you here from Mumbai! You're my responsibility Harshita."

"Thanks!"

"It's okay!"

'Harshita time to commence mission: truth!'

Khushi began walking towards Arnav with a towel in her hands. She tripped and fell on the bed with Arnav.

Rabba Ve.

Khushi stared into her husband's beautiful chocolate brown eyes! She wished time would stop forever and she would just continue looking into his eyes.

All of a sudden, Arshi knocked on the door.

"Mom, may I come in?"

Khushi stood up and fixed her duppatta that had fallen off her shoulder.

"Sure sweetie!" Arshi walked in.

"Mom, today's Sunday! Are we going to design together?"

"Do you want to?"

"Of course! It's the mother-daughter bonding we do!"

"Then let's go! We'll design by the poolside!"

"Yay! I love the poolside. It's beautiful!"

Khushi smiled! "Arnavji, do you want to come with us? It'll be great! Family bonding!"

"Khushi, did you just call me Arnavji?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I. . . I. . .just. . . it's just that Khushi. . ."

"I know, Di told me that she used to call you Arnavji, and Laad Governor! I must admit Laad Governor is hilarious!"

"I know! She used to call me that when she was mad at me! To be honest though, I loved when she called me that!"

"I think it's. . . cute!"

"Thanks. Now are we going to design or not?"

"Yeah! Let's go!" Arshi screamed.

*****

"Arshi, you are a great artist!"

"Thank you dad!"

"You're very welcome!"

"My mom and I design together every Sunday!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"You two talk while I make some jalebis." Khushi said.

"I love jalebis!"

"I know Arshi!" Khushi responded. After Khushi left, Arnav and Arshi continued bonding.

*****

AR:

"Khushi, fix this please!" He said as he handed her a file requiring some editing.

"Sure sir! Right Away!" As Khushi was walking away she purposely made sure her duppatta got on Arnav's face as she ignored him and walked out of his cabin.

'Step 2 a success! Now time for step 3!'

*****

Khushi was sitting by the poolside wearing the same sari she had worn on Diwali. She sat thinking about Arnav and the fact she still loved him so much that she forgave him!

Arnav walked in and saw Harshita sitting by the poolside. She looked so beautiful in Khushi's sari. He remembered the first Khushi wore that sari, on Diwali. That was the first day he let his emotions take over his brain. He was about to kiss her, if only that cursed Aman hadn't called!

It was like that moment all over again. The moonlight hit her, he was enchanted once again. He made slow steps towards her as she moved back. She looked like an enchantress who had casted her spell on Arnav.

At that moment, Arnav forgot that this wasn't Khushi it was Harshita.

When Khushi hit the wall behind her, she closed her eyes in anticipation as Arnav brushed away her bangs. He was just about to kiss her luscious, pink lips when he realized that the girl whose cheeks he was cupping wasn't Khushi it was Harshita. He widened his eyes and dropped his hands to the sides.

"I'm sorry I just thought you were my Khushi!"

"It's okay! I have to go!"

'Another success!'

Like and Comment! This is second to last!

Next update was about 2,500 words! Most of my updates are only 1000+ words. This was my favorite FF to write, but I have demotivated as I lost so many readers! Anyway, that will be all!

Chapter 15:

'Harshita, if you want Arnav to be convinced you're Khushi, then you have to become Khushi! I need to get closer to Arnav! As low as this sounds, I'm going to have to seduce him.'

"Khushi, what are you going to do?"

"I know this sounds low, but I think I have to seduce him."

"Are you crazy? He's going to hate you! Don't forget he thinks you're Harshita!"

"Do I have another option Abhi?"

"Tell him the truth!"

"Not without knowing if he truly loves me or not!"

"Khushi, there's something I need to tell you!"

"What is it Abhi?"

"Yesterday, I was standing by the poolside when I saw Arnav depressed. He was crying looking at a picture of Khushi. He said, "I miss you! I don't know if Harshita is you or not, but Khushi I will do anything to have you back. Your beautiful smile and those stupid little antics of yours, I miss them! Just come back! You know everyone said you died in that crash, but I know you're alive! You were the one who blank called after it! I know it was you Khushi! Please! I love you! Just come back Khushi!""

"He was always emotional, but not infront of anyone! He was always a hidden crier! Abhi, I think it's time to make the big move! If things go as planned then I'll confess!"

"Good choice Harshu! He really loves you!"

*****

"DAD! Have you seen mom?"

"No, she should be in her room!"

"She's not! I don't where she is! I searched the whole room! I even called her, but she won't answer! I called Sarita masi and Dhruv mama too! I even called her office and Abhi said she went out, but she left this morning! Abhi also said he should've been back by now! I'm so worried for her."

"Okay! I'll look for her! She should be here!"

The phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Arnav Singh Raizada good evening. How are you? How's your daughter? Are you missing your dear wife? Don't worry about her! She's in safe hands, but only if you want her to be!"

"What do you mean? Where is she?"

"I mean she's with me and she's absolutely safe till you fulfill all my wishes. I don't want a lot! Just a car and 1 crore rupees cash!"

"How do I know she's with you? How do I know she's safe?"

"Would talking to her get rid of your suspicion? Here, talk to her!"

"Arnav, help me! Help me!"

"Khushi! Khushi just relax! Everything will be fine! If you hurt her, I will kill you!"

"ASR, calm down! I won't hurt her as long as I get what I want! I'll call you back to tell you when and where to drop off the money!"

"I need some time to arrange the money!"

"Two days or your loving wife will say good bye to her life!"

"Don't you dare hurt her!"

"Remember my condition!"

*****

"Harshu, it's done!"

"Good! Thanks Abhi! I couldn't have done this without you!"

"Harshu, you know I had a crush on you! Plus, I owe you my life!"

"Abhi, I would've done it for anyone!"

"You saved my life, but you also taught me how to swim so I wouldn't drown again!"

"Abhi, you were such a good friend, and you still are! I miss the college days!"

"I do too!"

"You were the one who always helped me!"

"People only know how to talk! They don't know the whole story, but they talk like they wrote it!"

"Well, what would you expect? I was pregnant and I wasn't married!"

"You were semi-divorced! They didn't know! They thought low of you because your husband wasn't with you!"

"It's still disgusting!"

"I know!"

"Still, thank you!"

"No problem! I called Sarita; I'm going back to Mumbai next week! I think my job is done!"

"Thank you!"

*****

"Dad! Where's my mom? When will she come back?"

"Arshi, everything will be perfectly fine! Don't worry!"

"I want her back! She's my life! I love my mom a lot! She was always there for me; she's not only my mother, but my father and also my best friend! I can share everything with her! 10 years ago, my mother left her house and everything to give me a happy life. She worked day and night, even when she was pregnant! She did so much for being a single mother!"

"How do you know all this?"

"Dhruv mama and Sarita masi! They were the ones who helped her settle in Mumbai before she stood up on her own two feet!"

"How old are you Arshi?"

"10!"

Arnav was left shocked! Harshita was really his Khushi! His love! His life! Arshi was his daughter! His and Khushi's daughter. His blood! No matter how harsh the words he said were, but they were all lies! He saved her because he loved her. He gave her body heat because if something would've happened to Khushi he would've died.

'How could I hurt my Khushi though? My Khushi, who taught me how to love, who was my reason to live, who loved me so much! I just wish I had one chance to tell her how much I love her!"

*****

"Khushi, today I will tell you how I feel whether you feel the same or not!"

As Arnav got out of bed he began looking around for Khushi.

"Di, have you seen Khushi?"

"Chottey, she's gone!"

"WHAT!"

"She took the morning flight to Lucknow and she told us all the truth! I can't believe what you did and trust me Chottey; I won't be able to forgive you so easily! Her whole family rejected her because we felt she was responsible for marrying you, but she wasn't! YOU FORCED HER TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HER KHUSHI AND PAYALJI'S KHUSHI! HOW COULD YOU CHOTTEY? WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP LIKE THIS!"

"Di, please listen to me!"

All of a sudden, the TV began blasting. "Aaj ki taza khabar Delhi se Lucknow jane wali flight AI154 has crashed aur hum apko dika rahe hai apko viman ki halat." (Today's fresh news, flight AI154 from Delhi to Lucknow has crashed and we are showing the state of the flight.) All passengers are either severely wounded or dead. We have gathered that 56 passengers have died and 23 are wounded. As you can see the flight has completely burned, the landing wheels have broken and the worst part is it has crashed at its destination. Right on the runway!"

"Chottey that was Khushiji's flight wasn't it?" Anjali asked after looking shocked for moments.

Arnav mouth dropped and he fell to the ground sobbing. It was the first time Arnav cried infront of anyone besides his Di.

*****

"Arshi, listen to me, I am going to bring Khushi back! I promise you I will bring my Khushi home!"

"Dad, I want to come with you!"

"No! I can't risk your life! Arshi, I want you to stay home!"

"STAY HOME! MY MOM IS IN THE HANDS OF STRANGERS WHO COULD HURT HER ANYTINME AND YOU WANT ME TO STAY HOME!"

"Arshi, please relax! I will find her from anywhere and I will save her at any costs!"

"Dad, please! I want to be with my mom! Hume Mom ke paas jana hai! (Dad, please! I want to be with my mom! I want to go to my mom!)"

"I'll bring her to you! I've already lost too much! I can't lose anymore!"

"What do you mean?"

"You'll find soon!"

*****

"Khushi, are you hungry?"

"Starving!"

"What do you want?"

"Anything!"

"Okay! I'll be back."

"Wait Abhi, I want you to be careful and I can take care of myself! When Arnav comes here I don't want you here, because I don't want you to be held responsible for all this!"

"Okay. I think Priya and Mansi must be waiting for me!"

"Thank you for all your help!"

*****

"Arnav, where are you?"

Suddenly, she felt his presence.

"ARNAVJI! ARNAVJI! HELP ME! PLEASE!"

"Khushi! Where are you?"

'He knows?' She smiled.

"Arnavji, I can't see anything. It's too dark. I can't feel anything either, I'm tied up!"

"Look Khushi don't worry and keep talking! I'll find you at any costs! Khushi I want to apologize to you!"

"Don't say anything! I should've said this before! If I had told you before, maybe we would've been together! Maybe Arshi would have had a father! We could have been happy!"

"KHUSHI!" Arnav screamed with delight! He had finally found her! He ran to her and began untying her.

"Arnavji! You found me." Khushi jumped into a hug "I love you Arnavji! I love you!"

"I love you too dammit! I love you too!"

They hugged for what felt like infinity.

"You found me!"

"I did!"

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have left you!"

"I'm sorry for forcing you to marry me!"

"I'm sorry for hurting you!"

"I'm sorry for hurting you too! Now let's go! I have made a promise to somebody to find you and bring you home safely!"

She nodded. She cupped his face and gave him a kiss on his lips. Arnav at first was surprised, but he responded with the same love, Passion, and tenderness. After breaking the kiss, Arnav swiftly picked her up into his arms.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm finally taking my bride home!"

*****

They entered shantivan hand in hand.

"MOM! Thank goodness you're safe! Thank you so much for saving my mom."

"Di, Mama, Mami, Jiji, Jeejaji, and Nani, I need to confess something."

"What happened Khushiji?"

"Di, when I left this house, I went to Mumbai. I changed my name, my lifestyle, my everything! For the sake of my baby! If I didn't have Arshi, I would have been nothing! She was my reason to live. After the contract, I had nowhere to go, but all of that changed when I found out I was pregnant. Dhruv, my doctor and friend, and Sarita, my best friend helped me settle in Mumbai. They told me to change my name to Harshita Malik."

"But, Phatti Sari? You bents bye bye but tum hello hi be ki ho to bhy talking about past? (You went bye bye but you also did hello hi, so why are you talking about the past?)

"Mami, when I came here, I was only trying to pretend to be Khushi. I was under another deal with Arnavji. He didn't know I was really Khushi and I was only supposed to pretend to be Khushi. Mami, after I was kidnapped two days ago, I've been waiting to come home and tell you all the truth."

"Phatti Sari! Are you okays?"

"I'm fine Mami!"

"Thank goodness! I was so scared!"

"I should be thanking Arnavji for saving me."

"Phatti Sari, I think you need rest. Go to your room."

*****

"Mom, are you the peasant from the story and is Mr. Raizada the arrogant Raja."

"How'd you know?"

"Mom, is he my father?"

"I'm sorry Arshi. I wanted you to stay away from him because I didn't want him to know, but Arshi, you're father loves you. I want you to talk to him."

*****

"Khushi, I love you. I'm sorry I hurt you, I love you a lot! Promise me you will never ever leave me again!"

"Arnavji, what's wrong?"

"Just promise me you won't leave! I will die without you! I was only alive these 10 years in hope of your return! In the hope that once I found you, I would tell you how much I suffered and how I repented! I couldn't accept my punishment, but I did."

"Arnavji, I didn't leave you to punish you. I left you so you would be happy! I knew you hated me and that hurt me. I could've lived with memories, but I could never live with your hate for me or Arshi."

"I love you!"

"I love you and I promise to never ever leave you!"

That's it! Been a great journey indeed! Will miss this FF! Please read some of my other works!

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