IPKKND FF | Broken Strings (ON HOLD) - Page 13

Originally posted by: shay1990

Chapter Six - Tug Of War

Anjali Singh Raizada had never been as confused as she had felt right then at that moment. Her heart was beating incessantly; thudding in her ears as her stomach churned in expectancy - her hand still wavering over the doorbell; shocked that she had actually plucked up the courage to even press it.

'Don't leave without talking to her Anjali,' she thought, giving herself another pep-talk as she kneaded her stomach in a bid to stop it from churning gruesomely.

Her mind almost instantaneously reverted back to her first date with her boyfriend, Shyam. And how she had felt that night

'I'm more nervous then I was then! I wasn't even this scared when I told Chote about Shyam!' She reminded herself with a shudder as she placed a shaking hand over her thumping heart

'Hey Bhagwan, I can't do this.'

She was about to turn around when the door opened - a sickening wave of relief washing over her as she laid eyes on the one person who could have changed everything.

'Khushi?'

She watched as her little sisters' face became pale; as she struggled with the emotions that were swiftly distorting on her face - Somewhere between a smile and a scowl.

'Di?'

Just hearing Khushi address her caused the tears to gather to the brim of Anjali's eyes. She hadn't heard her voice in so long. That voice, which used to soothe her; give her advice; that used to confidently assure her that Shyam Jha was in love with her.

'Can I come inside?'

Khushi could do nothing but nod her head meekly, standing to the side, allowing her the space to enter the house. She silently watched as the woman who she still considered her older sister, walked past her as if in slow-motion. She couldn't blame her. How could she? Arnav Singh Raizada, just like herself, was the most important part of Anjali's life. She knew she never would have done anything on purpose. But that didn't stop the distress from slowly tearing her heart in to pieces.

Her wavering thoughts were cast aside at the warning tones of Payal. She snapped her head towards them; catching a glimpse of Anjali - her head bowed in utmost regret

'Why have you come here Anjali... Khushi has suffered enough at the hands you two. Aur kuch karna baaki hai kya?!'

Khushi could see the tears forming in Anjali's eyes as the rest of the family looked upon her with distaste. She couldn't blame them, yet she couldn't help but want to protect Anjali from their accusing stares. Khushi could plainly see the remorse; the guilt seeping from her in every way possible.

Before Anjali could even open her mouth to try and explain herself, Khushi came forward and placed a hand on Payals shoulder.

'Jiji please... I'm fine. I want to talk to her as well'

Payal looked at her little sister, her pleading eyes boring in to her own - silently willing her not to make a scene; to understand the situation.

When did she become so grown-up' she thought to herself as she conceded and placed a warm hand on her cheek - smiling lightly, letting Khushi know that everything would be OK.

'Accha theek hai... If you need us we'll be in the other room OK?'

Khushi nodded, a sombre smile adorning her flustered face as she lead Anjali towards her bedroom - Each one of them afraid to break the silence between them.

~

There was an irritating thought at the back of his mind that had been pricking Arnav since the morning. And now, by late evening... it was stabbing at his brain cells torturously as if trying to get him to cave in.

She had just left

What he couldn't get over was that Khushi Kumari Gupta hadn't so much as breathed in front of him let alone even say anything.

She had just left... Without so much as uttering a single word. No hi. No accusation. No questions.

No nothing.

The same Khushi that, according to his Di, had been breaking day by day not knowing where he was. The same Khushi who had screamed her heart out when she couldn't find him after the bomb blast. The same Khushi who always had something to say.

Surely he deserved at least some sort of greeting?

'Get real Arnav... What makes you think you actually deserve anything from her' he thought to himself - grimacing slightly as he inadvertently reminded himself of what he had done.

Of course, Arnav Singh Raizada felt guilty. Of course he did. He had thrown away 16 years of friendship as if it wasn't even a big deal. Of course he felt guilty. Khushi was the one and only person he actually couldn't bear to hurt after his Di.

But this is what he had to do. And this is what he had wanted in the first place... right?

Leaning forward, his elbows resting on his desk, he pressed the ache at the bridge of his nose - sighing as he struggled to keep his confusion at bay. He had to stop thinking about her.

But she had just walked away.

'Dammit it!' he thought, chiding himself for unwittingly overestimating his wayward thoughts.

He looked up at Akash who was analysing all the candidates with such concentration that Arnav thought he could literally see the mechanisms working away in that odd brain of his. He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion when Akashs' face brightened slightly at one file in particular. Just then, he looked up and grinned at Arnav cheekily.

'Bhai woh Khushi - the one I interviewed? She was smoking hot na?!'

Akashs' expression became momentarily dazed as his wistful thoughts pictured said person.

'I mean, that face, those legs... the way her ass-'

He couldn't finish his sentence - resorting to a strangled cry as he rolled around on the floor holding his Knee. Arnav was standing above him, his finger pointed warningly as his jaw clenched in anger for the hundredth time that day. He could feel the rage dripping through him as he listened to such an objectified description of his Khushi. His reaction was involuntary - of that he knew he could never be rid of. It was as if it was his basic instinct. To protect her.

'Akash if you say one more word...'

'Bhai! You were supposed to actually let me say one more word before breaking my f**king leg!'

Arnav merely shrugged and smirked at the sight of his cousin cursing him profusely - his anger slowly ebbing away as he watched him struggle to hoist himself off the floor on unhinged legs.

'That's what you get for being such a pervert'

Groaning, Akash somehow managed to lift himself on to the desk and slump in to the nearest chair. Rubbing his sore knee, he looked up at his cousin, still a little annoyed and asked the question he'd been dying to ask since morning.

'So what's the deal with Khushi and you anyway Bhai. And don't try and avoid the question ok.'

Arnav sighed... The poor guy deserved to know at least something he guessed.

'Nothing. We all grew up together. Me, Di, Khushi and her older sister Payal. Her and her family literally live like 2 streets down. Me and Khushi were pretty good friends. And... Well, we're just not any more I guess.

Seeing the downcast expression on his cousins' face as he finalised his answer, Akash now understood. Even though he didn't know the full story. It was so clearly evident that his brother was to blame. His face had been full of guilt for the whole day!

And now, Akash knew what he needed to do; this had only reiterated his decision. So whether Arnav liked it or not, Di was going to get her wish. And with any hope, His cousin would get a taste of his own medicine... And regain a friend in the process.

~

They sat on the bed.

Two unfamiliar familiars sitting next to each other on the bed, racking their brains for something to say - both unwilling to look at the other for fear of what they would see. But Anjali Raizada was adamant to say the least. She refused to go till this whole mess had been sorted out. She mentally smacked herself on the head as she thought about the absurdity of it all. 'How could I possibly think everything will be sorted out in an instant? Look what you've put her through!'

She made a move to say something

'Khushi-'

Khushi interrupted Anjali before she could say anything else - as if she knew what she was going to say.

'Di, I'm not going to lie to you... I'm angry. Of course I'm angry. You don't know how hurt I feel right now. But I know you had your reasons. And I know it had something to do with him. But at least I knew you were alive and safe. At least you didn't leave me with a constant weight in my life thinking I had lost you.'

By this point, Anjali's eyes were brimming with heated tears as she listened to her little sister try and put her unacceptable behaviour in to perspective. She couldn't just sit there and let her make her actions justified. Anjali knew full well that her action were not it the slightest bit justified.

'But I did Khushi! That's exactly what I did. I'm just as much to blame as Chote. He was selfish, and I just went a long with it without even thinking what it would do to you'

'Di -'

'No! Let me finish... You don't understand how many times I tried to call you afterwards as well. But each and every time I would chicken out... and then it just got later and later. And then by that point... I just didn't know how I would ever redeem myself.'

Khushi snapped her hand out and grabbed Anjalis hand to stop her from saying anything further. Squeezing it, she voiced the words that she had wanted to say since she had opened the door to her.

'Di... It's ok. I'm ok. We're ok'

This was all that Anjali needed to hear from her little sister.

She buried herself in to Khushi's embrace and just let her tears take over as she felt Khushi wrap her arms around her tight.

They stayed like that a while, Khushi's own tears manifesting as she slowly came to terms with the fact that Anjali was finally there - in front of her very eyes, after so many years. Slowly, Anjali lifted herself out of Khushi's arms and wiped away the remaining tears - her eyes read and sore as she looked towards her little sister once more, hardly believing she was finally there with her. No more lies... No more pretence's.

'Khushi... What about Chote?'

Khushi sighed heavily as she looked down at the floor, knowing her answer would only upset Anjali even more.

'Would you blame me if I never forgave him?'

Anjali shook her head so vigorously that Khushi almost thought her tears would jump off of her face and on to her own. It warmed her heart knowing that Anjali understood her even to this day.

'I prayed for him Di. I prayed everyday hoping that he was safe... And now that I know he is - I have nothing left to give him; because along with his safety, he's taken away my faith in him.'

Anjali understood completely. She hadn't expected her to run in to his arms and forgive him. That just wasn't her. Khushi was made of strong stuff. She always was a fighter. She tentatively placed her fingers under Khushi's chin and lifted her head slightly, willing her to look her in the eye.

'You still love him na?'

As Khushi looked in to the gentle eyes of Anjali, the compassion that seeped through her gaze left Khushi with no choice. Even though her answer was going to make her physically sick to the stomach, she could never hide anything from Anjali. Not then... not now.

'I'm still waiting for the day that it stops being true.'

~

Two days had passed since that day.

Since the day that had put her life in to a raging turmoil for the second time in her 22 years.

But this time, there was an odd sense of serenity surrounding her. Everything seemed so calm. It was as if a great wave of relief had now settled within her - but she seemed so out of place. It was as if her emotions were causing a commotion; trying to battle with the serenity around her, knowing that it was pointless. It was weird.

She shook herself out of her reverie, shuddering slightly under the dense chill that was inching its way through the Gupta house. Her gaze rested on NK, who was currently raiding Shashi Gupta's wardrobe for a decent tie to wear on his first official date with Lavanya.

'So... Nanavs back hey?'

Khushi glared at him as he looked at her sheepishly - holding up two ties in a bid to rectify the mistake of bringing up such a sore subject.

'Yes. Yes he is'

Seeing the blank expression on Khushi's face, NK took that as his cue to stop joking around. Truth be told, even he felt the anger wash over him whenever he thought about this whole situation. He himself had grown up with both of them... and he himself had seen how broken his friend had become over the years. While the rest of them had long considered Arnav dead, Khushi continued to believe - she had never stopped hoping. And it was this very fact that made NK cringe to the core - just knowing that he had been somewhere, knowing that Khushi was waiting for him. Yes, Arnav had been through a lot as well... But what right did he have to play with peoples emotions like that? He wasn't the only one.

He watched her as she stood up and walked over to where NK was standing next to the wardrobe. Her hand reaching out to fiddle with one of the ties on the hanger - her gaze was lingering; absent-minded as she stroked the silk material

'Right, time to cheer this one up!' he conferred with himself, quickly going through the options in his head.

'So what do you think... Sex on the menu tonight?'

'KYA?!'

Khushi gaped at NK, her mouth now fully open at the words that had just come out of his mouth. She almost picked up the paperweight next to her, ready to throw it at his smug face as she finally realised what he was insinuating.

'Well that was easier then I thought... She must be more distracted then I thought!' He pondered, inwardly chuckling to himself as Khushi turned a violent shade of red at his next remark.

'I meant me and Lavanya... Khushiji'

'Khushiji?! How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that... Nanheji!'

NK made a futile attempt at hiding himself behind the flimsy ties as he saw Khushi shake her head in exasperation and hurtle towards him

Before she had the chance to even contemplate throwing NK out of the house, a harsh vibration coming from her room stopped her, mid-punch - her thoughts instantly landing on the phone call she had been eagerly awaiting for the past few days. She gave NK a quick shove before rushing in to her room and grabbing the flashing phone off her bedside table - juggling with it as she almost lost her grip on it.

'Hello?' Khushi said, almost breathlessly

'Hi is this Khushi?'

Confused, she looked up and shrugged at NK who had just skidded through the doorway.

'Yes, speaking?'

'Oh hey! It's Akash Raizada... From AR Designs.'

This was it. The phone call Khushi had been waiting for. She could feel the thudding in her chest already increasing as she pressed the phone closer to her ear in anticipation.

'Oh hi Akash! How are you?'

'I'm good thanks! I've got some news for you Miss Gupta, and you may want to hold on to your wits'

Khushi smiled through her nervousness at Akashs' lame attempt at making a somewhat of a joke - grinning as she heard him chuckling at his own 'cleverness'

'We've had some time to look over all the candidates, and we've finally made a decision. And it is my greatest pleasure to inform you that...'

Khushi felt her breathing become shallow... She knew what was coming.

But why was it that all that was racing through her mind was the thought of Arnav Singh Raizada. All she could think about was the fact that she would have to see his face again and again - a constant reminder of his idiocy. Once again, the confusion spread through her; scratching at her as it clawed through her sanity. His betrayal was shrouded by the vile happiness she felt at the thought of being in his presence every day again.

This was wrong.

'f**k you Arnav... I've got this shit under control,' she finalised to herself - ridding herself of the gnawing doubts; a new found confidence pouring through her as Akash delivered her the notice for the start of her new life.

'You've got the job!'

____________________________________________

So there you have it!

Once again. sorry it took so long... Hope you all liked it though 😊

Shay X

Originally posted by: dreamyshadows

Res*

Edited*

YAY!

Okay, so Im torn for Anjali. I dont what to think about her, but I absolutely adore Khushi. The way she's handling the situation is so mature for her 22 years 👏

Ooh, possessive? Poor Akaash though, I mean really. I still love him though, he is absolutely adorable 😳 And he's got a plan brewing in that head of his, nice!

LOL NK! 😆 What a way to get her attention 🤣

Cant wait! So she gets teh job :) Let the games begin!

PS : Sorry for UnResing so late, was busy last night *cough* watching Bourne Ultimatum *cough* and then fell asleep at like 2 am. Then updated Corridors and here I am!

UPDATEEE SOOON AND DONT BE LAZY NEXT TIME OKAY?

Avi

Originally posted by: -Shobhu21-

Wohoo !!

I always knew she and Anjali would be friends
But Arnav, No I dont want Khushi to forgive him so easily !

What he did was pure torture, and for once, I do like seeing him go through those conflicting emotions !
And what, now that she's got the job ! Yipee ! Its gonna be more fun !

Originally posted by: kbtr

Yeah! Of course, she got the job. What I want to know is now what will she do? I hope she remains strong in her mission. He needs to understand that what he did was wrong. Completely wrong. He wasted her teen years, the most beautiful time of her life - he wasted them. How is he going to justify what he has done? He can't. He robbed her. He robbed her of her teenage years. How can he say anything to justify what he did? He can't even be expected to be forgiven. Please don't make her sappy (like in reel life, and like she did Anjali) and give in to him. I want her to be completely indifferent to him, (well, pretend at least! as we know, she cannot be indifferent to him!) ignore him and then she can break down in private. That's why I was so glad that she just walked out on him. He needs a taste of his own medicine to see what he put her through!

I would love it if there was a guy who was crazy about her (in a platonic relationship, accepting and knowing she is in love with Arnav, but Arnav doesn't need to know that ) and made Arnav completely mad (although I do want them to get together, eventually.) I would love to see him loose total control - especially in front of her. And explain that!!

Thanks for the PM.😃 Appreciate that.

I really cannot wait for the next update. I know you are busy with life etc but please think of us too, we can't live without your stories!

Oops! Sorry just realized I'm shooting off my mouth again! Please write your story your own way and ignore my ramblings!