ARHI FF: Dive to the Dark [LAST Chapter-p.98] - Page 8

CHAPTER 3: Three Words

Arnav opened his eyes, blinking at the bright sunlight filtering through the hospital window. He groaned, trying to clear the foggy haze that loomed over him.

"Oh! Mr. Raizada, you've woken up. Well you will feel a little confused and you will probably slip in and out of sleep. But do not worry; the sedatives will wear off soon. If you need anything, the buzzer is right next to you." The nurse snapped her heels and walked away.

As Arnav processed the information and noticed for the first time that he was not alone in the room. Sitting on the floor, besides him were Akaash and Anjali.

"Di'," he stopped himself, his memories tumbling down upon him. In a cold voice he started again. "Anjali, take Akaash and leave, you must go home. I have to go to the office and finish some work' Call the nurse; I want to get out of here as soon as possible." With that he shut his eyes, knowing that otherwise he would run to his sisters comforting lap and lay his head on it to cry for his losses in this world. But instead, Arnav heard no closing door, only feet that shuffled closer to him. He opened his eyes again, the second time this morning, this time blinded by the tears on his sisters face.

"Arnav' chotte'I have something to tell you' something about that night." And so with a solemn expression, Anjali began what was horrid nightmare but is actually reality.

*FLASHBACK*

Anjali got up shocked.

"So Rani Sahiban, you decide now. I have told you everything."

For the first time in her life, Anjali felt a powerful emotion hit her like a bee sting. Insecurity. In her heart, Anjali refused to believe everything, she knew her soon to be sister-in-law would never do something like this. But Anjali decided to follow her brain and had given the verdict that Khushi was guilty. Little did she know, her next action would bring only emptiness and unhappiness, forever.

Anjali ran out, not glancing back to see the wide smirk on Shyam's face that he was openly displaying. Shyam was relaxed, letting the drama unfold itself. And Arnav walked through the Raizada doors to the worst moment in his life. Anjali stopped in front of Khushi who was waiting by the door to greet her fianc, and pulled her by the hair.

Khushi saw the smile on Arnav's face and the jump in his step as he came to her. She felt warmth overcome her, but fate had other plans for her. At the last step that he was supposed to take to reach her, she felt a sharp pain erupt in her head. She turned around to find a glint in Anjali's eyes.

"Di? Aww, What...ouch' happened?... Di it hurts!" Khushi felt her head pounding as the blood started rushing to her head as Anjali raised her hand and proceeded to beat her.

"How dare you come into my house SLAP'

And play around with my brother SLAP'

And my husband SLAP'

GET OUT you w***e! S**t you thought you would get away didn't you? You think you're so f*****g smart? SLAP."

"DI!" And for the first time Anjali saw her brother was present. She saw how, instead of coming to wipe her tears, her chotte went to Khushi and picked HER up. With each slap, Khushi felt herself lose herself to the dark, but when Arnav touched her, she jolted to the light at the gentle touch.

Arnav on the other hand was only concerned about the red marks on Khushi's face. He gently wiped her tears and pulled her close. His heart shattered at the pain in Khushi's eyes. His own eyes filled with anguish. ""Di, what the hell is the meaning of this? Why the f**k are you hitting MY wife?"

And Anjali seethed, realizing that it was ASR she was going to face for the first time. "What? I am the culprit already? Why don't you ask that b***h about what's going on? Why don't you as her why she is cheating. Cheating on you! Cheating on me! With. My. Own. Husband. Your. Jeejaji."

TO say Arnav was shocked was the understatement of the century, if not millennium. Anjali took pleasure in seeing the look pure AGONY overcome Arnav's face. Time to put part 2 in action she thought.

"Yes chotte," sobbed Anjali, "She only married you for money. Shyam himself told me how Khushi threw herself at him. She's filthy and digusting."

Anjali got up inside to call her husband and tell him to talk to Arnav himself, just to be sure that Arnav would fully believe Anjali. But then she saw a letter on the floor that killed her. No' what had she done? Running outside she saw Khushi walking away.

Khushi in all this time had quietly flinched at every word. She had felt Arnav loosen his grip on her. She felt herself die. Khushi decided then and there, she was not going to have a relationship without trust. When Anjali had left, Khushi Kumari Guputa turned to Arnav and spoke only 3 words that killed Arnav along with her.

"I'm leaving you."

Arnav could not believe it. He grabbed her wrist and felt it burn from his grip. But Arnav could not harm her. So he let the hand go. He saw how Khushi walked without looking back, no spring in her step or a smile on her face. She had come into his heart and house happily, and here she was' leaving sad and pained.

Arnav so badly wanted to call out to her. To kiss those lips, those soft lips that drove him crazy and comfort her in his arms. He looked at the stars and let out a wild cry. His mind was a whirlwind. He knew Khushi wouldn't do this. But then again she was from a poor family. But he had given her his heart and she had said 3 other words that she had meant with love in her eyes, the words "I love you". She surely had meant them with all her heart. But his jijaji would never lie to his Di' but when had Khushi ever lied to him. But Khushi was leaving. Surely it was because the accusations were true. Arnav decided he would talk to her tomorrow. So with a heavy heart and a clouded mind, he tried to go to sleep.

The next day, the birds did not chirp, and the sky was gloomy. Arnav decided to go talk to Khushi. Going down the stairs, he met Anjali and avoided her eyes, feeling that he was betraying her by visiting his Khushi.

"Don't go Arnav." Arnav looked up to meet a look of'fear' in Anjali's eyes.

"I have to, Di. I must talk to her first." But Anjali grabbed his shoulder and forced herself to stare into his eyes to confess her heart.

"She's left. I've already talked to her family. She's run away without telling anyone."

Arnav dropped down.

Anjali continued, "I had to go apologize to her' Arnav' yesterday'I lied about everything. Shyam had cheated on me. He wrote this confession to Khushi."

And Arnav fainted.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

~0oOO0~

"What do you want to tell me, Anjali? What else have you been hiding from me? Tell me dammit if it has to do with her. Otherwise, Anjali Singh Raizada you better move before I lose control!" he spat the words out, hating himself for hurting his Di but hating himself more for never calling Khushi in time.

Anjali flinched but continued, this time in a soft voice, "Arnav' I ' I found out where she is, this morning. If it means you'll stop h-h-hurting yourself, I'll let you go. And'Arnav, I'm sorry. I never got a c-c-chance to tell you. I'm so sorry, I knew you would leave me and with Shyam leaving me for her' I'm sorry."

"You can tell me where she is, Di, but I hope you realize she won't come back. Not after all YOU said to her and not after I' let her leave. If I see her'I'll just be diving to the dark."

~0oOO0~

Khushi continued typing her report before stopping and looking out the huge window next to her desk. She closed her eyes, the brightness hurting her eyes and she thought back to the way his eyes had spoke volumes to her when she had mentioned the words. But she never heard his silent pleas aloud. She felt a familiar intensity in heart at the thought of him but along with it she felt the lump in her throat. And now that she thought back, she realized she had been foolish. ASR had been smart by letting her go because she had learned from the experience. She sighed and went back to her work. Anjali's slaps brought a dull ache in her head and Anjali's filthy words screamed in her ears, but she pushed them out and focused on the papers in front of her. She was moving on to the next chapter of her life.

Precap: Arhi meet by accident.