ArHi FF- Bawari Piya Ki - Thread 3/ Link to thrd4 - Page 71

Arnav sat on the bar table and made a drink for himself remembering the day. It had been a mentally exhausting day for him. He placed the glass on to the table and dialed a number on his cell phone.

The phone in the Tacker household rang loudly breaking the absolute silence in the house with the couple quietly sitting and spending time by the fire. Karan got up from his chair and picked up the phone.

Karan: Hello?

Arnav (after a brief moment): Hi...

Krystle got off her chair and walked up to Karan standing just a couple of steps behind him. Karan remained quiet feeling a lump in his throat.

Arnav: I would have slapped you if you would have said something like that to me. He said with a slight smirk on his face. Karan chuckled and bit his lip, shaking his head unbelievably.

Karan: It's your luck you are talking to me over the phone or else I was planning to do that anyways. He said smirking. Arnav smiled taking a sip from his drink.

Karan: How is she now? He asked looking back at Krystle who seemed curious to know about Khushi.

Arnav: She's better now. Arnav smiled noticing how easily Karan had diverted the discussion sparing him from saying sorry; a word almost impossible for him to say. Karan truly knew him more than anyone.

Arnav: Karan... who was that man? His eyes were dark and his voice deep and threatening.

Karan let out a sigh. Karan: He wasn't in our guest list. Just some random guy from the next door pub; He was way too drunk.

Arnav: I want him behind the bars. He ordered darkly.

Karan: Already done. He won't be spared. I promise you that.

Krystle pulled Karan's arm and asked him to give her the phone. Karan: Donny, Krystle wants to speak to you. He passed on the phone to Krystle.

Krystle: Donny, Krystle here. Arnav: Hey Princess, so how does it feel to get married for the second time... to the same man?

Krystle: Boring I guess... But I was left with no choice; you see... my second option got married three days back. She joked giving a naughty smile to her husband. Karan shot her a look back and Arnav chuckled sipping his drink.

Arnav: So what did you want to talk about?

***

Khushi stood under the shower crying her heart out. Tears flowed uncontrollably and her whimpers slowly turned into loud groans submerged within the noise of the water droplets falling in the shower chamber. Her thoughts had gone fourteen years back to her first encounter with a drunken alcoholic man... Her step father... Shashi Gupta!

Flashback 1: A ten year old Khushi playfully sat with her dolls and stuff toys scattered all around her bed as she dressed the dolls making them wear her favorite little gowns. It had been two years since she had shifted in this house; in her new Daddy's house along with her mother Garima. And ever since she had come here, she was showered with all sorts of gifts. She asked for one and got three. Not even a single thing was denied to her. And she truly lived like a princess. But Khushi was too young then to understand that material happiness was short lived and meant nothing at all. Today was the day when for the first time, a new lesson about the bitter truth of life was to be learnt by her. A shiver ran down her spine as suddenly a shattering noise came out of her room. The little girl with small delicate fingers clutched on to her teddy in a tight grip. She got off the bed and walked out of the room to visualize the horrid scene in front of her eyes. Her new perfect daddy stood with a chappal in one hand and her mother lay on the marble floor carpeted with expensive fine red threads.

Khushi: Ma... the innocent little girl shouted to see her mother like that feeling humiliated and confused. She ran to her with her small bare feet over the cold marble and flung her arms around her mother's neck. Ma.. Ma.. she cried not understanding a thing.

Shashi pulled the little girls arm off her mother's shoulders pulling her away using his left hand while her mother unsuccessfully struggled to keep Khushi to herself. Khushi looked towards her new brother Shyam with pleading eyes for help while he stood at a distance not even once trying to interfere in the mishap in front of his eyes. And then Shashi kicked Garima away hitting her again with his foot wear. Khushi immediately looked at her mother who fell just next to the stinking broken glass bottle.

End of Flashback!

Khushi hissed in pain remembering the sight of that broken bottle as she felt like its broken pieces were till date cutting her wounded heart making it bleed. She let January's icy cold water wash away the smell off her as her mind drifted to another dark memory which wasn't any more than five year old.

Flashback 2: A 19 year old young woman rolled up the architectural design plan sheets keeping them securely in her drawing tube holder. Khushi neatly kept her drawing pens back in her pouch and picked up her hand bag hanging it round her left fore-arm as she hung the drawing tube over her right shoulder and picked up the two heavy construction books in her hands.

She walked out of the empty sixteenth floor studio of the Manchester school of architecture, checking the time in her wrist watch which showed eight thirty in the evening. It had been a long day and Khushi had worked continuously after lunch to make sure she finishes her floor plan drawings for the early morning presentation the next day. She walked into the elevator satisfied with her hard work today and looked forward to see Payal back in their little cozy student apartment ready with delicious pasta for dinner. It was Khushi's second year here in Manchester university and she couldn't deny that life was much peaceful than back home. She didn't have to face and experience all the horrifying incidents which took place every day. In fact, she could now actually be excited about going back to what she called home. As the lift opened on the ground floor Khushi walked out into the lobby to see the never ending drizzling rain again. It took her twenty minutes to walk back home every day and whether Khushi liked it or not, she had no choice but to walk back in the rain with a drawing holder, a handbag and two big fat books in her hand... oh well not to forget the umbrella now too! She took out her umbrella, wore her navy blue over coat and started to walk towards Wilmslow Park.

As the rain drops falling on the street shone in the night lights, Khushi carefully walked on the deserted road. After some ten minutes through the walk Khushi suddenly saw two men standing by the foot path smoking. One of them looked maybe in his late twenties while other seemed to be close to forty. She ignored looking at them and kept walking ahead slightly increasing the pace of her walking. As she crossed the two men, she could smell strong unpleasant smell which she immediately realized to be of alcohol. Her heartbeat rose and she clutched on to her umbrella tightly. She was just a few feet away from the two of them when the older one suddenly rose and called after her...

Man 1: Excuse me miss? May I get a lighter please...

Khushi: I am sorry, I don't have one... she murmured hurriedly without turning back and increased her pace even more. Khushi desperately looked around to find a soul but the road was surprisingly silent. Khushi: Maybe this road doesn't remain busy after six? She mentally noted for the very first time. Khushi slightly turned to look back from the corner of her eye to see the two men now following her and very close to her. She shouted as she felt the twenty something old just behind her and ran forward dropping her two books and the umbrella. She ran as fast as she could for about a little more than a hundred meters when she finally found success in hiding behind a car and could see the two men running past her. She got up and quickly escaped through the shortcut to the building where her apartment was. Khushi ran up the stairs and banged on the door of the third apartment on the 4^th floor sliding down unconscious on the carpeted floor.

End of flashback!

Khushi opened the glass door of the steaming shower chamber enveloping herself in the fluffy white towel tying it around her bust as it covered her till just above her knees. She took another one of the big comfort towel and rolled it over her wet hair.

***

Arnav: So what did you want to talk about?

Krystle: About Khushi... the words escaped from her mouth but Krystle immediately calmed herself seeing her husband knotting his eyebrows in confusion down at her. I ... I mean, I wanted to ask you to stay close to her Arnav... she needs you.

Arnav smiled warmly and responded with just a slight nod: hmm.

Krystle: Bye, take care of her and yourself too.

Arnav: Bye.

Karan took the phone from Krystle's hands and kept it down while she still stood at the same place. He turned around to see her lost in some thoughts.

Karan snapped his fingers in front of Krystle to gain her attention calling her name: Honey?

Krystle came out of her thoughts and asked Karan a question she really wanted to know. Krystle: Honey, have ever met Khushi's brother Shyam?

Karan: Shyam? Why are you concerned about him?

Krystle: no..just like that. Khushi was talking to me about him... and he's Donny's friend too so I thought maybe you too are friends with him?

Karan: Honey... Shyam is Donny's school friend and I only met Arnav during university... here in London, so how could I be friends with Shyam?

Krystle let out a sigh looking down at her nails. Karan: Yes, but I have met him occasionally once or twice. Krystle immediately looked up at his face. Krystle: you have?

Karan: Yes during college I guess, if I recall right... Shyam had come to London so I met him then with Donny. He seems to be a fine man... well that's obvious saying that he's ASR's friend... isn't it? He said casually walking towards the dressing room while Krystle stood rooted to where she was standing hearing what her husband was saying about Shyam.

Krystle (self-thought): Will it be right for me to tell Donny everything I know? But I know only a part of the story... actually not even enough to know what all Khushi has gone through. And I don't even know what sort of a friendship Arnav shares with Shyam... But he loves Khushi... I know it, then... maybe I should talk to Khushi and let her only tell him everything.

Karan: Happy anniversary wifey! He whispered in her ear and kissed her soft cheek making Krystle blush and turn around.

Krystle: You know you are the best husband in this world?

Karan: Ah.. even better than your second option? Karan winked and teased her.

Krystle: Ah.. well not better but I'll manage! She gave it back to him bursting into a warm laughter hugging Karan. Karan took Krystle back to the chairs next to the fireplace where a heart shape cheese cake was kept on the coffee table. They both cut the cake together celebrating the new year of them being together.

***

Arnav walked back up the stairs to his room thinking about what Krystle had told him. He should be spending time with Khushi at the moment. She needed him to be there with her, comfort her and take her fear away. Fear... yes, Arnav mentally made a note that he had to speak to her regarding her fear and behavior. Tell her that she can feel free to talk to him about whatever she likes and whenever she feels like. He smiled a proud smile mentally patting his back to have already rehearsed what he was about to say to her. You couldn't have complained... ever since he had met her... he had come to realize how fragile and innocent his angel was. And he was always at loss of words seeing her beautiful yet painful smile and her deep, big round eyes looking at him with a lot more expectations than he had allowed her. Every time he saw her in her eyes... he felt a strange pull... a lot more questions which didn't let him be away from her for even a few minutes. It felt like an innocent plea to be loved... something he felt inside out but it just wasn't in him to love her. He thought of it to be a slow poison which kills you slowly and steadily leaving nothing but just hatred for the person you loved so much once. His marriage will never end up being like that... he will make sure of it. With these thoughts he entered his bedroom which was illuminated with London's skyline and the soft candles Khushi lit during the night.

***

Krystle turned and tossed on her bed unable to sleep. It was 2:00 am and she was wide awake... her grey eyes tired and begging for sleep and her head heavy. Giving up she got up in a sitting position and turned to see Karan deep in sleep.

She leaned back keeping her head on the head rest of the bed thinking about her conversation with Khushi back at lunch in the Mall.

Flashback: (this one is before the party when Krystle didn't know that Khushi is Arnav's wife) They both sat eating in a high end Italian restaurant in London eating Pasta and salads, discussing about Krystle's parents, uncle and aunt Lintonbon and Karan.

Krystle: So that was all about me... schooling in Delhi, then Fashion Designing in London..that's when I met Karan... during a college fest...dated him for four years and got married! Khushi smiled warmly. What about you? Did you tell your husband that you are already in love with him or did he propose to you? She asked excited. Khushi looked a bit surprised. Oh! Mom told me you got married to your childhood crush? Is that true?

Khushi smiled slightly and responded: Actually it was our parents who arranged everything. Krystle's mouth dropped open with her fork still halfway towards her mouth as she looked at Khushi from under her heavy lashes. Krystle: you kidding me!

Khushi smiled: Payal said the same thing to me...ah, Payal is my best friend.

Krystle: Hmm...so does he know now? Khushi shook her head with a helpless smile.

Krystle: Khushi.. I know you haven't had the best possible childhood, but it's made you close the best of you somewhere deep inside where even you can't see it. Don't do this to yourself. You have nothing to lose...

Khushi: I have him to lose! // End of Flashback!

Her words rang in Krystle's ears as a tear escaped her eye.

***

Next: Khushi open's a part of herself to Arnav + Krystle and La plan ArHi's honeymoon!
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