PART 3 extended
After dinner, Khushi and Arnav retreated to their room. The house was so peaceful without the rest of the family. Khushi placed the candle she was holding by the dressing table and began to remove her jewellery and get ready for bed. She stepped into the bathroom to freshen up and change into her night clothes, meanwhile, Arnav walked over to the poolside to get some fresh air in the moon light. He sat down on the recliner outside and looked at the stars above. If only his Amma could see him today. How happy would she have been to see her Chhote, so at ease. He sighed thinking what a beautiful day it had been. He seemed so at peace. There had been no drama. It was just Khushi and him.
What a week it had been? Arnav Singh Raizada actually spent a week at Khushi Kumari Gupta's house! That same Khushi Kumari Gupta, who he one had told that he never ever wanted to see her face again. He spent a week without all his luxuries. His car had been vandalised, he'd bathed in public, fallen into cown dung, been fed hospital food and discovered what an engineer he can be. This was not the ASR he knew. He was changing. He would have never tolerated this a few months ago. This was all Khushi Kumari Gupta's doing. Why does she have such an effect on me. She is the only one who can make me do things out of the ordinary. Crazy girl he thought. He smiled and was snapped out of his reverie with the sound of the family chattering in the house. They were back!
He heard a knock and went to answer. It was Anjali.
Anj: Chhote'you are back? Are you ok? And Khushiji.
A: Di, yes we are ok. Khushi is asleep and I am tired too. I'll talk to you in the morning ok?
Anj: Ok. Good night. ''.Chhote'.?
A: Uh?
Anj: Welcome back!! She smiles at him and goes to her room.
Arnav locks the door behind him and turns around to find Khushi fast asleep. Even in the dim candle light she looked so angelic. He gets changed and was about to pick his duvet to sleep on the recliner, but suddenly thought to himself'"Why? We can share the same bed in the GH so what not Shantinivan? Ha!! That's the last time I am spending another night on that recliner!"' and slipped into bed next to Khushi.
Unfortunately, sleep was far from him. He tossed and turned over and over again. He couldn't even go work on his laptop as there was no power in the house. He checked the time. I was just past 1.30am. He lay there resting his hand above his head. A myriad of voices and questions playing up in his head. His heart was telling him that Khushi was pure. Why did he feel so comfortable with her? But he could not put aside what he saw on the terrace that day and what about what Khushi's neighbour told him.
FLASHBACK
Khushi's neighbour, Sharmaji: Damadji, Its very nice to see Khushi so happy again? She is such a lovely pure soul. She is the life of the neighbourhood. Everyone loves her especially all the children. You are lucky to have such a wonderful person as your wife.
A: Happy again?
Sharmaji: Yes'she was very broken when she found out that their paying guest, Shyam babu, her fianc was actually already married and even that into a really rich family. He turned out to be a real croonie. We even found out later, that he was the same person who had hired some goons to harass Khushi after her photo appeared on TV and then planned to save her, just so that he could win their trust. Oh'. He was a terrible terrible person but a great actor. He had us all fooled.
A: Shyam babu?
Sharmaji: Yes'he was lawyer. Always travelling to meet his clients'.but the sweetest talker I have ever met. Thank God his truth came out before Khushi unwillingly married him.
A: Unwillingly?
Sharmaji: Yes Damadji. Khushi never wanted to marry him. She was doing it to keep her family happy. She always wanted to go to college, but after Shashji illness, she had to become the bread winner and things became complicated. She had such big dreams.
END FLASHBACK
"Shyam?? Who was this Shyam that hurt Khushi and her family so much? And what has Khushi got to do with Di's Shyam? Are they the same person? No! That can never be. But there are too many similarities? Same name. Same job type. Same lifestyle. No! This cannot be. I will have to dig more into this." Arnav was still tossing, which seemed to have disturbed Khushi and she opened her eyes.
K: Arnavji? Kya hua? Ap soye nahi abhi tak?
A: Nai Khushi. Me theek hoon. Tum sojao.
K: Arnavji? '. She placed her hand on his cheek. "Ap kyun pareshan ho? Batayeina?" She whispers
A: Bas kuch nahi. Aadat hogayi hai tumari, par tum kitni door ho. Pass Aona?... He looks at her pleadingly. He needed her touch.
Khushi could not believe what she heard? Arnav Singh Raizada asking? But she saw the pain in his eyes. What was he so upset about? There was more to it? She could not see him in pain. She wanted to ease his pain away.
She pulled her hand away from his face. "That's it!" Arnav thought. "I just blew it! What did I just say there? What was I thinking?". Just then he saw Khushi pull herself closer to him. She moved in close to the point that their bodies were touching and she slowly rolled around to face her side of the bed. Her back pressed against his side. Arnav could not believe it. He turned around and coiled his arm around her belly to in an embrace and pulled her closer. Khushi adjusted herself to get more comfortable. She tucked herself and pushed back into his torso and securely enveloped her hand over his. She could feel his chest rise up and down against her back. The warmth of his breath on her bare nape.
Arnav held her tight and even closer. She was so petite, but a perfect fit for him. Her floral scent. Her silky skin. Her sleek hair. She was such a beautiful little creature. Arnav lowered his head and placed a loving kiss on her head. She acknowledged his affection with a light rub on his hand. Arnav took a deep breath and fell asleep.
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