A THING CALLED LOVE :(1-39)PART49 IN NEW THREAD - Page 96

LOCATION:

( PENT HOUSE)

ARNAV'S ROOM:

They just came back. Its 10.00 at night.

Khush is extremely tired, yawning.

But equally tensed.

She is ransacking her room, yet again, and cursing herself for losing the passport and ticket.

After a few minutes she barges into Arnav's room again.

Khushi:

"Arnav ji! MY eyes are closed. Are you fully dressed?

Can I come in?"

Arnav:

"KHushi!

You have seen me without a shirt many time.

So why so much drama?"

Khushi:

"yes I know.

But now I need ot tlak. So I want you dressed. Please."

Arnav

"Open your eyes.

I do not have anything on !!!"

Khushi shouts out and stomps out of the room. Arnav runs after her.

Holds her hand and drags her into his room.

Arnav:

"fool!

Open your eyes!

And say what you need to say."

Khushi:

Very slowly opens and see a fully dressed Arnav.

She sighs!

Khushi:

"where is my passport and ticket?

I have looked all over. But cannot find it.

I called NK ji this morning, just to ask him if he knows anything about it or not.

Do not get upset.

I did not tell you, because I know you do not like me to be around NK ji.

I also want to add that, he is just a friend, nothing else.

Ok?"

Now:

Where are my things?

Also Arnav ji!

In the restaurant Mark JI said you'.i mean you had feeling for me before Lavanya JI left.

I had to ask you.

Because I have made up my mind to ask.

Please explain."

Arnav:

Keeps silent for sometime.

"Khushi!

I said , I told you how I feel about you last night. Also this morning.

I do not want anything in return.

What Mark said is true."

He says the heavy words, surrenders completely to her and then slumps down on the bed.

His head bowed down, hands on the sides

Eyes on the floor.

Khuhsi, waits.

Stunned to the last drop.

Her head spinning.

Mind lost.

"WHAT?"

"YOU HAD FEELINGS FOR ME, WHILE WITH LAVANYA JI?

IS THAT THE REASON YOU BROKE THE ENGAGEMENT WITH HER?

WHY?

I MEAN WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME BEFORE?"

So I was correct.

I always thought you had some feelings for me.

But never could I determine what and how deep it was.

But Arnav ji!

If you felt the same way for me back then as you do now,

Why did you let me go?

Why did you marry me without telling me anything ?

WHY COULD YOU NOT ASK ME BEFORE COMING TO A CONCLUSION?"

Arnav slowly looks up at her directly. His face in still unreadable.

He stands up and pours himself a glass of water.

He gulps it down in a second and then takes 2 pills out.

He takes the pills. And then seats down beside her .

Arnav:

":Khushi!

I was wrong.

I have a massive EGO.

I was wrong in not asking you.

I made this mess."

He stops, for a few minutes and then with a very deep voice says:

"I saw you in HIS arms the night of Akash's wedding.

I could not bear it.

You were in HIS ARMS in the roof.

You did not seem to mind.

He said you are his life and you cannot leave him.

He held on to you, and you said, that he should leave Di, as her marriage was not working."

Khushi jots up with the sound of glass breaking.

The tall glass broke into pieces in Arnav's hands

Blood was spilling form his palms.

Khushi run to the bathroom got some towel and wiped it clean.

(Arnav was holding the glass tightly while talking and out of frustration of the toxic memory, he lost control)

Khushi:

"Arnav Ji!

Please keep in control.

Lie down on the bed."

Arnav:

"NO"

Why did you not say a word to him?

Lavanya told me the guy you were engaged was Shyam. That's how I figured it out.

Shyam told me, you love him and want to be with him.

So I took the step of marrying you the and there.

I could not see you in his arms

I could not see you ruin my sister's life.

I am sorry

I should have asked.

I know I should have. But I could not."

I wanted to keep you safe from a culprit like SHYAM.

I took the decision as soon as I heard of Di's pregnancy.

If the case was different, I would have killed that bast** right in the spot.

How dare he touch you?"

Arnav stands up suddenly and grabs her hands. He yanks her up and hugs her tight.

They spend many minutes in each other arms. But it seemed different.

Khushi pulls back:

Khushi:

"Arnav ji!

I understand what happened.

Your intention, reasons, half truth, SHYMA'S deception.

He double crossed.

He told me he loves me

He told Anjali ji he loves her,

He fooled my entire family. Tricked you all too.

I will kill that MO** F***** CHuti**'Salah."

Arnav gets stunned seeing Khushi burn with rage. This is a new color of Khushi he has never seen.

The chipring, fun lovng girl, all of a sudden becomes a fiery woman.

Arnav takes her hands again and goes on :

"Khushi!

I was wrong in so many ways, I cannot describe.

The way I forced into marriage, the rudeness, brutality, inhumanness I have shown you. Is un explainable. It was cruel. It was like an animal.

I am sorry.

I know sorry doesn't count.

If I could rip my heart out and show you, may be still it will not be enough.

You do not need to forgive me or say anything.

I was wrong and I deserve to be punished."

Khushi

"Arnav ji!

Please, do not say sorry.

Yes what happened, happened. And there is nothing : we can do about it, just repent.

For that Kamina CHUTi** , '''''.( she loses her temper again and Arnav tries to hold her down)

She yanks her hands off form Arnav's hold and fires:

" YOU LEFT ME.

YOU LEFT ME ALONE IN THAT HOUSE WITH HIM

HE TRIED TO RAPE ME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW I FELT?

HOW CHEAP, HOW USED I FELT?

I PRETENDED TO ACT THAT YOU WERE WITH ME.

HE DOUBTED THAT , I WAS WITH ANOTHER MAN'that Sua*ki*Awl***.

HE TRIED TO FEEL ME UP. TOUCH ME.

SHYAM'.'HE'''.

WHY ?

WHY ARNAV JI!

IF YOU EVER LOVED ME, EVEN A SINGLE BIT, HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?"

AND NOW!

How can you ask me to stay?

YOU DO NOT TRUST ME.

You never will.

YOU SAID YOU LOVE ME.

I BELIEVE YOU.

YOU KNOW MY FEELING ASWELL.

BUT you left me.

You made the divorce papers and left me a check.

What did you think?

What were you thinking?

Over the last 6 months, was I ever rude to you?

Did I ever hurt you or your family?

Yes, I know I pulled pranks , but did I hurt you in anyways?

COULD YOU NOT FEEL ANYTHING THEN?

COULD YOU NOT READ MY EYES?

FEEL MY FEELING TOWARDS YOU?

I AM NOT STAYING.

I AM NOT STAYIN G IN RAIZADA HOUSE WITH YOU AND ANJALI JI AND SHYAM.

I WANT OUT."

"

Arnav ji!

TELL ME THE TRUTH.

DO YOU HAVE MY PASPORT AND TICKET?

TELL ME THE TRUTH. NOW !!!! "

Khushi was shaking violently with anger and fury.

All moments of agony, torment, sorrow, heart break, Arnav's blatant confession, the truth, all seemed to hunt her down.

She felt over whelmed. All the emotions bottled up and were drowning her senses.

OVERALL, the rape attempt now was taking centre stage.

Arnav does not even say another word.

He literally drags himself up, limps up to the drawer beside his bed and brings out Khushi's passport and ticket copy.

He lays them down on the bed gently.

He just utters one single word:

"GO"

THIS TRIGGERS HER RAGE,

Khushi closes the gap in between them in two steps.

Pulls his shirt with all her might.

Pushes him down on the bed.

Khushi:

"Are you showing me mercy now?

What do you think you are?

Why are you not giving me a solid reason for why I should stay?

What am I to you?

Your girl friend?

Your ex wife?

Your mistake?"

Arnav shudders with each one of her word. His face turns into different shades of gray.

He looks up once at her and then looks down.

Almost teary eyes.

Khushi:

"you stole my passport ?

Why?

And I was getting crazy looking for them again and again.

What did you try to prove?

If you did not want me to go back, all you needed to do WAS ASK ME TO STAY.

WHY DID YOU HIDE THESE?

WHY ALL THE DRAMA?

I HATE DECEPTION AND DRAMA !!! "

" Arnav ji!

MY FEELING FOR YOU, WILL NEVER CHANGE.

I USED TO FEEL THE WAY, IN PAST, SAME THING STANDS FOR NOW TOO.

I WAS, AM AND WILL BE YOURS, FOR EVER.

BUT

BUT , NOT LIKE THIS.

HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME MONEY LIKE THAT?

HOW COULD YOU SIGN THE DIVORCE PAPER AND WALK AWAY 10 DAYS BEFORE COMPLETION OF MARRIAGE?

HOW COULD YOU?"

ARNAV NOW JOLTS UP.

" WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?

YOU THINK I MADE IT FINALISED?

YOU SIGNED THE PAPERS, KHUSHI KUMARI GUPTA.

YES, YOU DID."

Khushi:

"ARNAV JI

DO NOT LIE.

PLEASE.

DO NOT PRETEND.

I KNOW YOU MADE ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS, MADE THE CHECK, GAVE ME INSTRUCTIONS

SIGNED AND LEFT."

Arnav now turns furious:

His fists are balled and he is shaking in anger and frustration:

" KHUSHI KUMARI GUPTA: YOU STUPID, FOOL,

DID YOU EVEN SEE THE PAPER BEFORE YOU SIGNED?

DID YOU SEE ME SIGNATURE ON THE PAPER?

DAMN IT!!"

Arnav shoves her ASIDE and walks to the locker, dials the pass codes and brings out a folder.

He throws the folder on the bed.

Papers fly open.

Khushi picks up the papers and see that, there is only her sign.

Arnav's portion is blank.

She remembers that, she never looked and assumed that HE signed at first and the divorce has been finalized.

She collapses on the floor.

Head on the bed.

Body stopped.

Breathing halted.

" ARNAV JI!

THERE IS NO SIGN.

YOU DID NOT SIGN?

HOW COULD I?

UM''M'..YOU DID NOT SIGN?"

Arnav walks pass her.

Slumps down on the bed.

Arnav:

"KHUSHI !

Get your passport and ticket.

GO.

Whenever you like.

I will not stop you.

Now you know the truth. The whole truth.

Next time in life, when you sign something and make a life altering decision, please do look before you sign.

Say or go, whatever you feel like.

There is no pressure."

I SAID WHAT I HAD TO SAY."

Arnav lies down on the bed and pulls a quilt on him.

He turns the light off, of the table lamp.

The room turns dead dark.

Khushi keeps on seating on the ground, in the dark.

After 20-30 minutes, a silent Khushi gets up and walks away from his room.

Sound comes of the main door of the pent house of being closed from the outside.

( FYI : near Arnav's feet, Khushi's passport and ticket remains)